Boeing's Starliner Lands Safely After Abort
Second Uncrewed Test Flight for Spacecraft
Touchdown for Spacecraft Comes a Day Late
After a day-long delay, Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft has finally landed on Earth, bringing to an end a high-stakes test flight that was plagued by problems. The spacecraft touched down in the desert of New Mexico at 6:58 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 29, 2023, after a journey of more than two days from the International Space Station (ISS).
The landing marked a major milestone for Boeing, the aerospace giant that has been under pressure to prove that its Starliner spacecraft is safe and reliable enough to carry humans to the ISS. The company has been working on the spacecraft for more than a decade, and it has suffered a series of setbacks, including a failed test flight in 2019.
During Sunday's landing, the Starliner spacecraft successfully deployed its parachutes and landed softly in the desert. The spacecraft was carrying a test dummy named Rosie, as well as a variety of cargo. Boeing engineers will now inspect the spacecraft to assess its condition and determine whether it is ready for a crewed test flight.
If the Starliner spacecraft is successful in its crewed test flight, it will be the first time that a commercial spacecraft has carried humans to the ISS. This would be a major step forward for the private space industry, and it would also help NASA to reduce its reliance on Russian spacecraft.
Komentar