Science

Starliner Returns Earth Without Sunita Williams And Wilmore

NASA shared a message from astronaut Sunita Williams, who addressed the flight control teams just ahead of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft's departure from the International Space Station (ISS). Sunita Williams expressed her gratitude to the teams involved in the Starliner mission and said, "it is t

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Thangaraja Palaniappan
·2 min read
Starliner Returns Earth Without Sunita Williams And Wilmore
Starliner Returns Earth Without Sunita Williams And Wilmore

NASA shared a message from astronaut Sunita Williams, who addressed the flight control teams just ahead of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft's departure from the International Space Station (ISS). Sunita Williams expressed her gratitude to the teams involved in the Starliner mission and said, "it is time to bring Calypso home."

Sunita Williams Message:

Sunita Williams complimented the flight control teams, noting, "We are just looking at the flight control rosters and like, wow, it is the all-star team...it is time to bring Calypso home. You've got this. We have your backs and you've got this. Bring her back to Earth," directing to the Starliner spacecraft named Calypso.

The Boeing Starliner Return To Earth:

The Boeing Starliner began its return journey to Earth at 6:04 p.m. EDT on Friday, September 6 (3:30 a.m. IST on Saturday, September 7), without its crew members Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. The spacecraft is anticipated to land in New Mexico around 12 a.m. EDT (9:30 a.m. IST) on Saturday, September 7.

NASA confirmed, "At 6:04 p.m. EDT, Boeing's uncrewed Starliner spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station. Starliner is scheduled for a deorbit burn at 11:17 p.m. EDT and a targeted landing at 12 a.m. EDT Saturday, September 7, at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico."

Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Stuck In Space:

Sunita Williams, an Indian-origin American, is currently stuck in space with Butch Willmore. They were aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule, which launched on June 5 for a week-long mission to the International Space Station.

However, due to technical issues such as a malfunctioning Reaction Control System (RCS) and helium leaks, their stay has been prolonged.

As a result, NASA decided to have the spacecraft return to Earth uncrewed. Williams and Willmore will now remain aboard the ISS and are scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

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Written by

Thangaraja Palaniappan

Thangaraja is the Lead Reporter at NewsBricks with over a decade of experience in journalism and live news reporting. Known for his strong on-ground presence, he closely follows developing stories and has covered major political events and incidents across India. With a primary focus on political journalism, he simplifies complex developments into clear, reader-friendly reports that help audiences understand the evolving political landscape. Beyond politics, Thangaraja has a growing interest in technology and innovation. He tracks smartphone launches, new gadgets, and emerging systems such as POS smart automation technologies, reflecting the increasing role of technology in everyday life and governance. Thangaraja believes journalism is built on integrity, public trust, and reader satisfaction. Committed to ethical reporting, he strives to deliver timely, factual, and impactful news through his work at NewsBricks.

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