CAPE CANAVER, Florida –
The Boeing crew’s taxi returned to Earth from the International Space Station on Wednesday, completing a repeat test flight before NASA astronauts boarded.
It was a quick return trip: the Starliner capsule was parachuted into the New Mexico desert just four hours after leaving the orbital laboratory, with airbags attached to soften the landing. Only a mannequin was buttoned inside.
In addition to damage to the thruster and cooling system problems, Starliner seems to have managed to cope with its high-stakes cruise, 2 1/2 years after its failed first attempt. Houston flight attendants applauded and applauded the touchdown.
NASA astronauts will then travel to the space station. The space agency has long wanted two rival US astronaut companies for additional insurance as it has drastically reduced its dependence on Russia for travel to and from the space station.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is already an established leader, launching astronauts from 2020 and even tourists. His crew’s capsules are sprayed off the coast of Florida, and Boeing’s Starliner returns to the vast and empty White Sands Army missile range in New Mexico.
Boeing stopped its first attempt to reach the space station in 2019, after software bugs left the capsule in the wrong orbit and almost doomed it. The company fixed the shortcomings and tried again last summer, but corroded valves stopped the countdown. After further repairs, Starliner finally took off from Cape Canaveral last Thursday and boarded the space station on Friday.
The astronauts on the station tested Starliner’s communications and computer systems during the five days of the space station. They also unloaded hundreds of pounds (kilograms) of groceries and other consumables, which flew into the Boeing capsule, then filled it with empty air tanks and other discarded equipment.
A folded U.S. flag sent by Boeing was left behind to be retrieved by Starliner’s first crew.
“We’re a little sad to see her leave,” astronaut Bob Hines said on the radio as the capsule flew.
Along with the ride was the test model of Starliner – Rosie the Rocketwoman, the take-off of Rosie the Riveter from World War II.
The repairs and repairs cost Boeing nearly $ 600 million.
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The Associated Press’s Department of Health and Science receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Scientific Education. AP is solely responsible for all content.
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