After months of waiting and safety checks, Boeing's flashy new spaceship, the Starliner, has finally left the International Space Station (ISS) — but without its astronaut passengers! 🤖✨
On Friday, the Starliner undocked from the ISS, beginning its six-hour journey back to Earth. But here's the twist: NASA's two test pilots, who were supposed to be on board, are staying on the station until next year. Talk about an unexpected extended stay! 🛰️
\"She's on her way home,\" astronaut Suni Williams announced as the capsule smoothly separated from the station. NASA engineers confirmed that everything went by the book, ensuring a clean departure. 👍
Originally, Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore were set to ride the Starliner back in June, just a week after they arrived. But plans changed when thruster glitches and helium leaks messed up their ride. Safety first! 🛑
NASA decided it was too risky to bring them back on the Starliner. So instead, the capsule headed home empty, carrying only blue spacesuits and some old station gear. The astronauts? They'll catch a ride with SpaceX in late February 2025. What was supposed to be an eight-day mission has turned into over eight months in space! 🗓️
The Starliner is expected to begin its deorbit burn at 11:17 p.m. Eastern Time. If all goes well, it'll touch down at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico around 12:03 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, wrapping up this unique mission. 🌠
Safe travels, Starliner! And to our astronauts aboard the ISS, enjoy the view a little longer! 👨🚀👩🚀
Reference(s):
Boeing's Starliner capsule leaves ISS for Earth without astronauts
cgtn.com
