Mission Summary
's Starliner mission concluded with the capsule landing in , but astronauts and remain in space due to deeming their return too risky.
The Starliner capsule faced thruster failures and helium leaks, leading to a prolonged uncertainty about the astronauts' return. Despite Boeing's confidence in the capsule's safety after tests, NASA opted for a SpaceX return.
Operational Challenges and Responses
The mission experienced significant technical issues, including thruster malfunctions and propulsion system helium leaks, which raised concerns about the capsule's ability to safely return to Earth.
Despite these challenges, the Starliner's automated landing was successful, and Boeing plans to analyze the capsule upon its return to to address the technical problems.