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Public Express Doubts About Astronauts Return 

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Public Express Doubts About Astronauts Return 

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Nasa astronauts latest: Update on Boeing Starliner crew stuck in space

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Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been on the International Space Station for two months because of issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

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Spacecraft Returning Without Astronauts 

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Spacecraft Returning Without Astronauts 

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The Boeing Starliner space capsule that lost NASA officials' confidence to safely bring home two astronauts will begin its return from orbit with no crew Friday and, if all goes well, parachute to a landing in New Mexico early Saturday.

But even a successful landing will be something of a hollow victory. The last leg of the groundbreaking mission would conclude a test flight that strained relations between Boeing and NASA and raised questions about when the Starliner will become fully operational.

NASA officials on Wednesday detailed their plans for the remote-control return trip for the spacecraft, which took astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore to the International Space Station in early June but was deemed unfit to bring them home because of equipment issues. The astronauts will be brought home by a SpaceX capsule instead and will remain at the station until February.

The plan is to have the Starliner undock Friday at 6:04 p.m., depending on the weather. Using thruster burns, it will be steered toward Earth to begin its descent into the atmosphere. Officials expect the uncrewed capsule will land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico around 12:03 a.m. Saturday.

"It's been a journey to get here, and we're excited to have Starliner undock and return," said Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager, during a news conference.

The spacecraft's return without Wilmore and Williams represents a stinging loss for Boeing, which had hoped the test flight would lead to regular operational missions for the spacecraft. But because the Starliner experienced thruster problems and helium leaks as it brought the pair up to the space station, NASA deemed the complete round trip with crew too risky. Now Boeing will have to continue to run tests on the Starliner on the ground before it can be fully certified for future crewed flights, NASA officials said.

"It has been a really busy and challenging summer," said Dana Weigel, NASA's ISS program manager.

Boeing did not answer a question Wednesday about the future of Starliner beyond its return. "Boeing continues to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft," the company said in a statement. "We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return."

The challenges are not over. The SpaceX Dragon mission that is set to bring home Wilmore and Williams is slated to launch Sept. 24. The Dragon capsule will remain at the ISS until February, then it will return to Earth with the pair of astronauts. The original Crew-9 mission was supposed to have a full contingent of four astronauts but was reduced to two to make room for Wilmore and Williams. A SpaceX capsule that arrived at the ISS in March has been configured as an emergency return vehicle for the pair, officials said.

Weigel said that she's exchanged emails with Wilmore and Williams, and that they're happy and on board with the plan.

"They're ready to execute whatever mission we put in front of them," Weigel said.

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Boeing Starliner is set to return home Friday, with no astronauts

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The spacecraft's return without its crew represents a stinging loss for Boeing, which had hoped the test flight would lead to regular operational missions for the spacecraft.

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Aging, overworked and underfunded: NASA faces a dire future, according to experts

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Aging infrastructure, short-term thinking, and ambitions that far exceed its funding are among the problems facing NASA, according to a new report.

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NASA astronauts stranded in space until 2025 speak out on ‘uncomfortable’ issues with spacecraft

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Suni Wiliams and Butch Wilmore open up about their experience in space while stranded on the International Space Station.

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Boeing Starliner Makes History With First Ever Crew Flight Test Launch into Space

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Boeing Starliner Makes History With First Ever Crew Flight Test Launch into Space

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Boeing’s Starliner launches astronauts for 1st time in historic liftoff (photos, video)

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It was a big moment for Boeing and for NASA.

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Two NASA astronauts stuck in space have flown long missions before

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NASA decided they won’t be flying back in their troubled Boeing capsule, but will wait for a ride with SpaceX in late February, pushing their mission to more than eight months.

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Starliner Astronauts Won't Return Home Until 2025 Boeing Explains

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Starliner Astronauts Won't Return Home Until 2025 Boeing Explains

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Starliner astronauts won’t return until 2025: The NASA, Boeing mission explained

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Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was dealt another blow when NASA determined that it wasn’t fit to bring its crew back home. So SpaceX will.

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Elon Musk says the FAA should make Boeing pay for putting the Starliner astronauts at risk, not fine SpaceX ‘for trivia’

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The FAA proposed fines for SpaceX, saying it violated launch licenses, and Elon Musk isn’t happy.

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