Boeing Starliner Earth Return on June 26

NASA and Boeing are targeting a June 26 return to Earth of the Boeing Starliner from the International Space Station. Starliner’s first crewed mission to the ISS, initially scheduled for about eight days, has been extended due to thruster malfunctions and helium leaks. The spaceship blasted off from Florida atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on June 5, following years of delays, safety scares, and two aborted launch attempts.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former U.S. Navy test pilots, are the first crew to fly Starliner. Boeing and NASA are hoping to certify Starliner for regular rides to the ISS, a role currently fulfilled by SpaceX for the past four years.

Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, stated, “We want to give our teams a little bit more time to look at the data, do some analysis and make sure we’re really ready to come home.” Mark Nappi, program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, added, “It’s more nominal and the (helium) leaks show that they’re stable and less than they’ve been previously. That leads us to believe that we have a good safe spacecraft.”

Teething issues with new spaceships are not uncommon. The Space Shuttle program and SpaceX’s Dragon program faced their share of problems in their early days. Starliner is just the sixth type of U.S.-built spaceship to fly NASA astronauts, following the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon programs.

A successful Starliner mission would help dispel the years of safety scares and delays surrounding the program and provide Boeing a much-needed reprieve from the safety concerns surrounding its passenger jets.

As the Starliner spacecraft approaches its return date, NASA and Boeing have meticulously planned the intricate details of its re-entry trajectory and landing sequence. The undocking from the International Space Station is scheduled for 10:10 PM Eastern Time on June 25th, setting the stage for a highly anticipated homecoming.

Upon separating from the ISS, Starliner will initiate a series of precise maneuvers to align itself for atmospheric re-entry. The capsule will utilize its onboard thrusters and guidance systems to maintain a controlled descent trajectory, ensuring a safe and stable return path.

During the intense re-entry phase, Starliner will experience searing temperatures up to 3,000°F (1,650°C) as it plunges through Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 17,500 miles (28,000 kilometers) per hour. The spacecraft’s advanced heat shield, composed of a material called Avcoat, will protect the crew from the extreme heat generated by atmospheric friction.

As the capsule decelerates, the crew will experience intense g-forces of up to 3.5G, exerting significant pressure on their bodies. However, Wilmore and Williams, both seasoned astronauts with extensive training, are well-prepared to handle these physical demands.

In the final stages of descent, Starliner will deploy a series of parachutes to further slow its descent rate. The intricate parachute system, consisting of two drogue parachutes and three main parachutes, will gradually decelerate the spacecraft to a safe landing velocity.

The culmination of this meticulously choreographed sequence will be Starliner’s touchdown at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Airbags will inflate upon impact, cushioning the spacecraft’s landing and ensuring a gentle conclusion to the historic mission. If all goes according to plan, the targeted landing time is approximately 4:51 AM Eastern Time on June 26th.

Throughout the re-entry and landing phases, NASA and Boeing teams will closely monitor every aspect of Starliner’s performance, ensuring a successful return for the pioneering crew. The data gathered during this mission will be invaluable for future Starliner flights, paving the way for a new era of human spaceflight capabilities.