Boeing's Starliner Returns to Earth Without Crew After Completing ISS Mission

NASA and Boeing made adjustments to the Starliner's departure sequence to reduce the risk of overheating and increase the spacecraft's distance from the International Space Station. The Starliner undocked from the ISS at 6:04 pm EDT on Friday, September 6, and began a series of maneuvers to move away from the station. However, the spacecraft returned to Earth empty, with astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore remaining on the ISS. The decision to leave the astronauts behind was made by NASA due to concerns about the risk of overheating and malfunctions with the spacecraft's thrusters. The Starliner landed safely at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 4:03 am GMT on Saturday, September 7.