Space & Astronomy

Boeing Starliner capsule fails to reach ISS

By T.K. Randall
December 22, 2019

Image: International Space Station
Credit: (PD) NASA Similar to Lockheed Martin's Orion capsule, the Boeing CST-100 Starliner is designed to carry astronauts up into space as part of ongoing efforts to end NASA's reliance on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft for its crew transportation needs.

Starliner launched on its maiden unmanned flight on Friday morning with the intention of rendez-vousing with the station to demonstrate its docking capabilities, however a timing error meant that it ended up in the wrong orbit and was no longer able to reach its target.

After spending just 48 hours circling the Earth, the capsule returned for a successful touchdown at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico earlier today.Despite the technical issues however, the future is looking bright for Starliner.

"It was an absolute bullseye, better than I think anybody anticipated," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said of the landing.

"That's good for the agency, it's good for Boeing; that's good for the United States of America."

It will likely be a good few months however before the capsule can launch again.


Source: Space.com

Tags: Starliner