Boeing Starliner Scheduled to Return September 6

NASA has announced that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on September 6 at 6:04 PM ET, returning uncrewed to Earth due to safety concerns with its thrusters. The spacecraft is expected to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at approximately 12:03 AM on September 7. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were onboard during Starliner's launch on June 5, will remain at the ISS for an extended mission, not returning until February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The delays and failures during Starliner's development have raised significant concerns regarding Boeing’s ability to deliver safe crewed missions, as the program has faced numerous technical issues and operational delays since its inception. This situation has led to a major embarrassment for Boeing, as they now rely on a competitor for the astronauts' safe return. NASA maintains that there are sufficient resources onboard the ISS, so the astronauts are not stranded, but the incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Starliner program.