Boeing’s new commercial spacecraft, the CST-100 Starliner, returned to Earth after spending just less than a week on the International Space Station, making a smooth landing in the New Mexico desert with the aid of parachutes and airbags. Starliner performed a crucial test flight, demonstrating its ability to launch into space, dock at the station, and then safely return home.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule was built in partnership with NASA to send the agency’s astronauts to the International Space Station. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. However, before allowing its personnel to board the vehicle, NASA wanted the Starliner to demonstrate that it was able to fully complete a trip to the International Space Station. The test flight was carried out unmanned.
Boeing’s new passenger spacecraft CST-100 Starliner also fulfilled an important cargo mission on this journey. The astronauts opened the docked vehicle and took the cargo that was sent to them. The capsule also succeeded in bringing the cargo loaded from the International Space Station to Earth intact.
In the coming months, NASA and Boeing will examine the failures on this flight and determine whether the Starliner is ready to carry humans into space during a test. Preparations will be made for the Crewed Flight Test, which may take place by the end of the year. This will be a major milestone for Boeing, which lags far behind NASA’s other Commercial Crew provider, SpaceX. SpaceX has already performed five crewed flights.
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