Boeing Starliner Undocks from Space Station, Heads Back to Earth Unmanned as Crew Stays Behind

Liftoff and Mission Highlights

On May 25, 2023, Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) after a five-month stay. The Starliner undocked autonomously, carrying out a series of maneuvers to depart the ISS and begin its journey back to Earth.

The Starliner's mission, known as Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2), was a critical test flight to demonstrate the spacecraft's ability to safely transport astronauts to and from the ISS. During its stay at the ISS, the Starliner crewless performed various tests and maneuvers, including docking and undocking procedures.

Crew Remains on ISS

While the Starliner departed the ISS unmanned, the four-person crew of Expedition 68 remains on board the station. The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Josh Cassada, and Nicole Mann, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, will continue their research and maintenance tasks until their scheduled return to Earth in September 2023.

Starliner's Return to Earth

The Starliner is expected to land in the western United States on May 26, 2023, at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. The spacecraft will re-enter Earth's atmosphere and deploy its parachutes to slow its descent before landing on the desert floor.

The successful undocking of the Starliner marks a significant milestone in Boeing's efforts to develop a commercial crew transportation system for NASA. The company plans to conduct a crewed flight test of the Starliner later this year, with the goal of beginning regular astronaut missions to the ISS in 2024.