Tech Desk 
Sep 06, 2024
NASA and Boeing were prepared for the uncrewed return of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth. However, unfortunately, due to a sudden technical issue, the spaceship is concluded to return without recovering the stranded astronauts Sunita William and Butch Wilmore.
Currently, both the stranded astronauts will stay on the ISS and will return to Earth in February 2025, on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft instead of a Starliner.
Stringent landing protocols of NASA’s Boeing Starliner Mission
Starliner is enabled for a rapid recovery of astronauts, and cargo, streamlining spacecraft restoration. Its landing sites are White Sands Missile Range, Dugway Proving Ground, and Edwards Air Force Base.
Read more: Mysterious 'pulsing' sound on Boeing Starliner baffles NASA
Stringent weather checks are conducted to avoid any inconvenience 24 hours before the deorbit burn, Other measures and factors affecting the weather including Wind speeds, ground temperatures, cloud ceiling, and more are diligently monitored for safe landing.
Starliner landing procedures
Starline is all set to perform several departure burns after undocking, after safe arrival to the landing sites in almost six hours. Once the deorbit burn is done, the service module would be burned up over the re-entry on the Pacific Ocean.
It is said to be followed by the command module, operating inside the re-entry position, facing challenging situations regarding higher temperatures up to 3000°F. Moreover, there are higher chances of communication breakage with Boeing Starliner spacecraft due to plasma buildup.
