Boeing’s controversial Starliner Spacecraft has separated from the Harmony module of the International Space Station (ISS). It is on its way. It is returning to Earth. If everything goes well, it will land at White Sands Spa Harbor in New Mexico between 9.30 and 10 am on September 7, 2024.
Watch the video of Starliner separating from the space station below
At this time it is orbiting around the earth. About half an hour before landing, NASA will show a live broadcast. Which NASA+, NASA app, Youtube Or it can be seen on the agency’s website. The Starliner capsule was undocked from the space station at around 3.30 am on September 6, Indian time. That is, it will be separated from there.
At 8.47 am it will turn on its braking rockets. The rocket will remain on for one minute. After this, with the help of a parachute, it will have an air-bag cushioned landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. The landing time is around 10 am.
The uncrewed @Boeing #Starliner spacecraft has departed the space station undocking from the Harmony module’s forward port at 6:04pm ET today. More… pic.twitter.com/pp9Zua6jN7
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) September 6, 2024
What will happen after landing?
After the Starliner lands, the NASA and Boeing team will take it back to the assembly unit. It will be examined there. It will be found out why the helium leaked. Why did the propulsion system have problems. Why did this spacecraft cause problems to Sunita and Butch in docking.
In October 2011, NASA gave Boeing the green signal to build the spacecraft. It took six years to build the Starliner. It was built in 2017. Its test flights continued till 2019. But no human was involved in these flights. These were unmanned flights.
Docking with the space station could not be done in the first flight
The first unmanned orbital flight test took place on 20 December 2019. There was no human in this flight. But due to two software glitches, it reached another orbit. Docking with the space station could not happen. Two days later, it landed back at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Maneuvering and thrusters failed on second flight
The second unmanned flight took place on 6 April 2020. The purpose was the same as the previous flight. It was to reach the space station. It was to dock. After this, it was to return. But the launch had to be postponed a bit. Preparations were made to launch it in August 2021. But then some deficiencies were found in the 13 propulsion valves of the spacecraft.
After this, Boeing rebuilt the entire spacecraft. Preparations were made for a trial flight in May 2022. On May 19, 2022, the Starliner flew again. This time two dummy astronauts were seated in it. That is, inanimate models looking like humans. But the orbital maneuvering and attitude control system thrusters failed.
Somehow, on 22 May 2022, Starliner was connected to the space station. On 25 May 2022, Starliner returned to Earth from the space station. During reentry, the spacecraft’s navigation system malfunctioned. Communication went haywire. Also, the connection with the GPS satellite was lost. But Boeing said this is normal.
Sunita’s third flight was also getting postponed several times…
The third manned flight was scheduled for 2017. But due to several reasons, it got delayed till July 2023. On 1 June 2023, Boeing said that we are postponing this flight. On 7 August 2023, the company said that all the problems of the spacecraft have been resolved. The next flight was scheduled for 6 May 2024. That is, this year.
But then this launch was postponed because there was some problem with the oxygen valve in the Atlas rocket. After this, the launch was postponed due to helium leak in the spacecraft. Finally, on June 5, Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore left for space with this spacecraft. They were supposed to return 8 days later on June 13, but till now they are stuck on the space station.
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