Boeing's Starliner to return idle as NASA taps SpaceX to bring astronauts back via Reuters
(Reuters) – NASA will return Boeing's (NYSE: ) ill-fated Starliner capsule to Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who will return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA chief Bill Nelson on Saturday.
The Starliner launched its first two astronauts, both former military test pilots, into space on June 5 as an important test before it receives NASA approval for regular flights. But what was supposed to be an eight-day mission grounded to the ISS was derailed months after the capsule leaked and some of its thrusters failed.
Here is a list of key events in Starliner's journey into space over the past few years:
September 4, 2015 – Boeing is shutting down the assembly plant for its first line of commercial spacecraft, which NASA plans to use to fly crews to the ISS.
Nov. 4, 2019 – Boeing says one of three parachutes failed to open during a key unmanned test of the Starliner.
Dec. 20, 2019 – Boeing successfully launched its new astronaut capsule on the first trip to the ISS.
Dec. 22, 2019 – A spacecraft makes a “bullseye” landing in the New Mexico desert.
Jan. 7, 2020 – NASA and Boeing are investigating a software error that prevented an unmanned capsule from reaching the ISS on its Dec. 2019.
February 6, 2020 – A NASA review panel says Boeing narrowly missed a “catastrophic failure” during a December flight test.
August 25, 2020 – The first Starliner crew mission is scheduled for 2021, with Boeing aiming to complete software and test hardware production improvements.
October 7, 2020 – The chief astronaut of the Starliner crew flight to the ISS, Chris Ferguson, is stepping down, citing family priorities. He was replaced by Wilmore.
July 29, 2021 – An accident on the space station prompts NASA to postpone the Starliner launch.
August 3, 2021 – Boeing postpones Starliner launch after new error.
August 13, 2021 – Boeing is returning the spacecraft to the factory to fix a valve problem, delaying the launch date until at least mid-October if not later.
May 19, 2022 – The Starliner capsule is launched on an incomplete test flight to the ISS.
May 20, 2022 – The Starliner capsule, with no astronauts on board, marks its first docking with the ISS.
Aug 25, 2022 – Boeing announces that it aims for early 2023 for the first Starliner mission carrying astronauts.
June 1, 2023 – Boeing says it will stand down from late preparations for its first Starliner test flight to space, scheduled for July 2023, after discovering two critical space safety issues.
May 3, 2024 – Boeing is ready to send the first Starliner space capsule with a crew into orbit next week, after a year's delay.
May 6, 2024 – The first crew test flight of the new Starliner space capsule was postponed after the planned May 6 launch was halted due to an Atlas (NYSE: ) V rocket failure.
May 7, 2024 – NASA says the new target launch date was originally pushed back to May 17.
May 14, 2024 – Boeing says the Starliner mission has been delayed again – until at least May 21 – due to a problem with the spacecraft's propulsion system.
May 17, 2024 – NASA and Boeing delay the launch of the Starliner crew capsule again to check for a helium leak, which was scheduled for May 25.
May 21, 2024 – NASA has delayed the first crewed flight to spend more time investigating a helium leak in the space shuttle.
May 22, 2024 – NASA and Boeing target June 1 for launch.
June 1, 2024 – A second attempt to launch the Starliner with astronauts on board was automatically shut down minutes before it was lifted off by the computerized abort system.
June 2, 2024 – Boeing and NASA target June 5 for launch.
June 5, 2024 – The Starliner astronaut capsule is successfully launched from Florida with two astronauts on board, with a scheduled ISS landing on June 6.
June 6, 2024 – The Starliner capsule and NASA's first two-member crew dock safely with the International Space Station.
June 11, 2024 – NASA and Boeing say they expect the Starliner capsule to return as soon as June 18, after a previously scheduled return, citing repairs to faulty components in the capsule, and weather conditions among other things.
June 21, 2024 – NASA has again postponed the return of the Starliner to Earth, to allow more time to review the technical problems encountered.
June 27, 2024 – NASA says it will continue to test the performance of the Starliner program and Boeing.
August 7, 2024 – NASA says two astronauts could return on SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025 if the Starliner is still deemed unsafe to return to Earth.
Aug 24, 2024 – The Starliner capsule returns to Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, after NASA administrator Bill Nelson said the pair would need to return on a SpaceX vehicle early next year.
