Boeing’s Starliner to return without crew, as NASA uses SpaceX to return astronauts By Reuters

(Reuters) – NASA will return Boeing’s (NYSE: ) faulty Starliner capsule to Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who will return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA chief Bill Nelson said on Saturday .

Starliner launched its first two astronauts, both former military test pilots, into space on June 5 as a crucial test before it can receive NASA approval for routine flights. But what was supposed to be an eight-day mission docked to the ISS was stretched by several months after the capsule developed leaks and some of its thrusters failed.

Here’s a list of key events in Starliner’s space travel over the past few years:

September 4, 2015 – Boeing takes the wraps off an assembly plant for its first line of commercial spacecraft, which NASA plans to use to fly crews to the ISS.

November 4, 2019 – Boeing says one of three parachutes failed to open during a crucial unmanned test of the Starliner.

December 20, 2019 – Boeing successfully launches its new astronaut capsule on a maiden uncrewed trip to the ISS.

December 22, 2019 – The spacecraft makes a “bullseye” landing in the New Mexico desert.

January 7, 2020 – NASA and Boeing are investigating a software bug that prevented the unmanned capsule from reaching the ISS on its December 2019 flight.

February 6, 2020 – NASA’s review board says Boeing narrowly missed a “catastrophic failure” during its December flight test.

August 25, 2020 – The first manned Starliner mission is tentatively scheduled for 2021, with Boeing aiming to complete software development and test hardware production.

October 7, 2020 – The lead astronaut for Starliner’s crewed flight to the ISS, Chris Ferguson, resigns, citing family priorities. He is replaced by Wilmore.

July 29, 2021 – A space station accident causes NASA to delay the Starliner launch.

August 3, 2021 – Boeing delays Starliner launch after new glitch.

August 13, 2021 – Boeing returns the spacecraft to the factory to fix a valve problem, pushing the launch date to at least mid-October, if not later.

May 19, 2022 – The Starliner capsule launches on an uncrewed test flight to the ISS.

May 20, 2022 – The Starliner capsule, without astronauts on board, docked with the ISS for the first time.

August 25, 2022 – Boeing announces it is targeting early 2023 for the first Starliner mission carrying astronauts.

June 1, 2023 – Boeing says it is abandoning late preparations for its first crewed Starliner test flight to space, which had been planned for July 2023, after discovering two critical safety issues with the spacecraft.

May 3, 2024 – Boeing is ready to send the first manned Starliner space capsule into orbit next week after a year-long delay.

May 6, 2024 – The first crewed test flight of the new Starliner space capsule has been delayed after the planned May 6 launch countdown was halted due to a malfunction in the Atlas (NYSE: ) V rocket.

May 7, 2024 – NASA says the mission’s new target launch date has been set for May 17 at the earliest.

May 14, 2024 – Boeing says the Starliner mission has been delayed again – at least until May 21 – due to a problem with the spacecraft’s propulsion system.

May 17, 2024 – NASA and Boeing have delayed the launch of the Starliner crew capsule again to check for a helium leak, targeting May 25.

May 21, 2024 – NASA has again delayed the crew’s maiden flight to spend more time assessing the helium leak from the spacecraft’s propulsion system.

May 22, 2024 – NASA and Boeing target June 1 for launch.

June 1, 2024 – A second Starliner launch attempt with astronauts on board was automatically aborted minutes before liftoff by a computer system.

June 2, 2024 – Boeing and NASA target June 5 launch.

June 5, 2024 – The Starliner astronaut capsule was successfully launched from Florida with two astronauts on board, with docking with the ISS scheduled for June 6.

June 6, 2024 – The Starliner capsule and an inaugural crew of two NASA members docked safely at the International Space Station.

June 11, 2024 – NASA and Boeing say they expect the Starliner capsule to return immediately on June 18, later than a previously scheduled return, citing fixes to faulty capsule components and weather conditions, among other things.

June 21, 2024 – NASA has further delayed the return of the Starliner to Earth to allow more time to review the technical problems encountered.

June 27, 2024 – NASA says it will continue to evaluate Starliner’s propulsion system performance with Boeing.

August 7, 2024 – NASA says the two astronauts could return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025 if the Starliner is still deemed unsafe to return to Earth.

August 24, 2024 – The Starliner capsule returns to Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on board, after NASA chief Bill Nelson said the duo would have to return on a SpaceX vehicle early next year.