{"id":2336784,"date":"2024-09-04T16:52:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T20:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/boeing-to-bring-starliner-capsule-back-to-earth-friday-without-its-astronauts\/"},"modified":"2024-09-04T17:02:14","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T21:02:14","slug":"boeing-to-bring-starliner-capsule-back-to-earth-friday-without-its-astronauts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/boeing-to-bring-starliner-capsule-back-to-earth-friday-without-its-astronauts\/","title":{"rendered":"Boeing to Bring Starliner Capsule Back to Earth Friday Without Its Astronauts"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fboeing-to-bring-starliner-capsule-back-to-earth-friday-without-its-astronauts%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2336784&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Boeing plans to return its troubled Starliner \u200dcapsule\u200d from the International Space Station (ISS) later this \u2064week after significant\u200b delays and technical issues. The capsule is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Friday \u2063evening and aim for a \u200clanding at New Mexico&#8217;s White Sands Missile Range six hours\u2063 later. \u2064Two astronauts aboard Starliner will remain at\u200d the ISS, opting\u200c to return with SpaceX in February \u200cinstead. This \u200bextended stay follows several delays caused by thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, which ultimately made it \u2063risky for them to accompany Starliner back.<\/p>\n<p>Since its \u2062initial\u200c test \u2064flight in 2019, \u2063which failed to reach the ISS due to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-ro-khanna-breaks-down-how-tech-jobs-can-save-small-town-america-in-new-book\/\" title=\"Rep. Ro Khanna Breaks Down How Tech Jobs Can Save Small Town America In New Book\">software problems<\/a>, Starliner has faced numerous \u200cchallenges, incurring over $1 billion in repairs. The capsule\u2019s \u200breturn \u200dwill now\u200b involve a quicker getaway using springs and \u200creduced thruster operation time \u200bto alleviate stress on the\u200b capsule.<\/p>\n<p>NASA has monitored extensive testing of the capsule&#8217;s thrusters,\u200b and while the astronauts, both experienced retired Navy captains, have adapted\u200c well to life aboard the\u200c ISS, their return home\u2062 has been postponed. The article highlights the\u200c differences in performance between Boeing&#8217;s Starliner and SpaceX&#8217;s Dragon capsule, the latter of which has successfully transported\u2062 multiple crews since 2020.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Boeing will attempt to return its problem-plagued capsule from the International Space Station later this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-and-trump-border-claims-called-into-question-following-debate-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Biden and Trump border claims called into question following debate - Washington Examiner\">week &#038;mdash<\/a>; with empty seats.<\/p>\n<p>NASA said Wednesday that everything is on track for the Starliner capsule to undock from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-slam-psakis-space-force-slight\/\" title=\"Republicans Slam Psaki\u2019s Space Force Slight\">space station<\/a> Friday evening. The fully automated capsule will aim for a touchdown in New Mexico&rsquo;s White Sands Missile Range six hours later.<\/p>\n<p>NASA&rsquo;s two stuck astronauts who flew up on Starliner will remain behind at the orbiting lab. They will ride home with SpaceX in February, eight months after launching on what should have been a week-long test flight. Thruster trouble and helium leaks kept delaying their return until NASA decided that it was too risky for them to accompany Starliner back as originally planned.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a journey to get here and we&rsquo;re excited to have Starliner return,&rdquo; said NASA&rsquo;s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nasa-astronauts-stuck-space-report-hearing-strange-noise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA<\/a>&rsquo;s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will close the hatches between Starliner and the space station on Thursday. They are now considered full-time station crew members along with the seven others on board, helping with experiments and maintenance, and ramping up their exercise to keep their bones and muscles strong during their prolonged exposure to weightlessness.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>To make room for them on SpaceX&rsquo;s next <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nasa-not-willing-to-risk-return-trip-on-boeing-capsule-astronauts-must-wait-until-spacex-arrives-next-year\/\" title=\"NASA Not Willing to Risk Return Trip on Boeing Capsule, Astronauts Must Wait Until SpaceX Arrives Next Year\">taxi flight<\/a>, the Dragon capsule will launch with two astronauts instead of the usual four. Two were cut late last week from the six-month expedition, which is due to blast off in late September. Boeing has to free up the parking place for SpaceX&rsquo;s arrival.<\/p>\n<p>Boeing encountered serious flaws with Starliner long before its June 5th liftoff on the long-delayed astronaut demo.<\/p>\n<p>Starliner&rsquo;s first test flight went so poorly in 2019 &mdash; the capsule never reached the space station because of software errors &mdash; that the mission was repeated three years later. More problems surfaced, resulting in even more delays and more than $1 billion in repairs.<\/p>\n<p>The capsule had suffered multiple thruster failures and propulsion-system helium leaks by the time it pulled up at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/russia-almost-destroy-international-space-station-secret-weapons-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">space station<\/a> after launch. Boeing conducted extensive thruster tests in space and on the ground, and contended the capsule could safely bring the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nasa-gives-employees-option-to-choose-preferred-gender-pronouns-in-email-communications\/\" title=\"NASA Gives Employees Option To Choose Preferred Gender Pronouns In Email Communications\">astronauts back<\/a>. But NASA disagreed, setting the complex ride swap in motion.<\/p>\n<p>Starliner will make a faster, simpler getaway than planned, using springs to push away from the space station and then short thruster firings to gradually increase the distance. The original plan called for an hour of dallying near the station, mostly for picture-taking; that was cut to 20 or so minutes to reduce the stress on the capsule&rsquo;s thrusters and keep the station safe.<\/p>\n<p>Additional test firings of Starliner&rsquo;s 28 thrusters are planned before the all-important descent from orbit. Engineers want to learn as much as they can since the thrusters will not return to Earth; the section containing them will be ditched before the capsule reenters.<\/p>\n<p>The stuck astronauts &mdash; retired Navy captains &mdash; have lived on the space station before and settled in just fine, according to NASA officials. Even though their mission focus has changed, &ldquo;they&rsquo;re just as dedicated for the success of human spaceflight going forward,&rdquo; flight director Anthony Vareha said.<\/p>\n<p>Their blue Boeing spacesuits will return with the capsule, along with some old station equipment.<\/p>\n<p>NASA hired Boeing and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/boeing-staffers-humiliated-elon-musks-spacex-steps-save-stranded-astronauts-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SpaceX<\/a> a decade ago to ferry its astronauts to and from the space station after its shuttles retired. SpaceX accomplished the feat in 2020 and has since launched nine crews for NASA and four for private customers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p>   <script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Boeing plans to bring back its troubled capsule from the International Space Station later this week, but it will have empty seats. NASA announced on Wednesday that the Starliner capsule is scheduled to undock from the space station on Friday evening. The fully automated capsule is set to land at New Mexico&#8217;s White Sands Missile Range six hours after undocking. The two astronauts who traveled to the station aboard Starliner will remain there and return home with SpaceX in February, eight months after what was intended to be a week-long test flight. Delays caused by thruster issues and helium leaks led NASA to determine it was too risky for them to return with Starliner as initially planned. &#8220;It\u2019s been a journey getting here, and we\u2019re excited for Starliner&#8217;s return,&#8221; said Steve Stich, NASA\u2019s commercial crew program manager. On Thursday, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will close the hatches between Starliner and the space station; they are now considered full-time crew members alongside seven others onboard, assisting with experiments and maintenance while increasing their exercise routines during their extended stay in weightlessness.<\/p>\n<p>To accommodate them on SpaceX&#8217;s upcoming flight, the Dragon capsule will carry only two astronauts instead of four due to recent cuts made late last week from a six-month mission set for late September. Boeing needs to clear space for SpaceX&#8217;s arrival after facing significant issues with Starliner long before its June 5th launch of an astronaut demonstration mission that had been delayed multiple times.<\/p>\n<p>Starliner&#8217;s initial test flight in 2019 failed dramatically due to software errors that prevented it from reaching the space station; this led to a repeat mission three years later which also encountered problems resulting in further delays and over $1 billion spent on repairs. By launch time, multiple thruster failures and helium leaks had already affected the capsule.<\/p>\n<p>Boeing conducted thorough tests of its thrusters both in space and on Earth, asserting that they could safely bring back astronauts despite NASA&#8217;s concerns which prompted changes in plans regarding their return trip.<\/p>\n<p>Starliner will execute a quicker departure than originally planned by using springs for separation from the station followed by brief thruster firings for distance increase\u2014reducing what was supposed to be an hour-long delay near the station primarily meant for photography down to about 20 minutes\u2014to minimize stress on its thrusters while ensuring safety at the ISS.<\/p>\n<p>Additional tests of all 28 thrusters are scheduled before reentry since those components won&#8217;t make it back; they\u2019ll be discarded prior as part of reentry preparations. The two stranded retired Navy captains have previously lived aboard the ISS comfortably according to NASA officials who noted their commitment remains strong despite changes in mission focus.<\/p>\n<p>Their blue Boeing spacesuits along with some old equipment from the ISS will accompany Starliner back home as well. A decade ago, NASA contracted Boeing and SpaceX for astronaut transport services following shuttle retirement; while SpaceX successfully completed this task starting in 2020\u2014launching nine crews for NASA plus four private missions\u2014Boeing has faced ongoing challenges<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2336785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/a5a164e72d4f4ee6b4897a01097d2544-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[20139,14922,5088,39792],"class_list":["post-2336784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-astronauts","tag-boeing","tag-space","tag-starliner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/a5a164e72d4f4ee6b4897a01097d2544-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2336785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}