NASA announced Saturday that Boeing's Starliner had landed in New Mexico, even as its crew remained aboard the International Space Station.
Starliner Landed The spacecraft completed Boeing's crewed flight test at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 12 a.m. ET.
The two test pilots were left behind in space and are scheduled to return to Earth in February after NASA deemed it too dangerous to do so.
Boeing launched the long-delayed mission in early June with Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on board. The mission had been postponed several times due to thruster failures and helium leaks.
While attempting to dock with the space station, five of the spacecraft's 28 thrusters went down.
The eight-day mission turned into a months-long journey as engineers worked to determine what caused the capsule's malfunction.
Although the company maintained that the Starliner was safe enough to return Williams and Wilmore to Earth, NASA decided in late August that it was not safe to return the pair to Earth and that they should remain in space.
Although Starliner returned safely to Earth, Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager, said he believed it was the right decision to leave Williams and Wilmore on the International Space Station.
According to the Associated Press, Williams and Wilmore have been keeping busy on board the ship, helping with repairs and experiments.
SpaceX plans to begin the operation in late September with a six-month mission that will carry two people, with two seats reserved for Williams and Wilmore on the return flight in February.
This whole situation is a blow to Boeing, as the company has long waited for an opportunity to enter the commercial space sector.
Mark Nappi, Boeing vice president and program manager for commercial crew programs, It said in a statement The company will review the data and “determine next steps for the program.”
