Boeing Starliner to undock from ISS and return to earth; here's how you can watch its return live

With no people on board, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth. On Friday night, NASA has scheduled the unmanned spaceship to undock from the International Space Station (ISS). Instead, it is anticipated that NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who arrived at the station in June, will stay in orbit and return in February on a SpaceX vessel. Although officials from NASA and Boeing were confident in the Starliner’s capability, they concluded that it would be safer for the astronauts to remain on board while the spaceship conducts an unmanned landing in New Mexico, as per the reports of MSN.

When and how to watch the Starliner return

The Starliner is scheduled to arrive at 12:03 a.m. on Saturday after undocking from the ISS at 6:04 p.m. EDT on Friday. Before reentering Earth’s atmosphere, the spaceship will use its thrusters to steer itself away from the station. The capsule is going to approach White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at a slower speed due to a parachute system. September 10, 14, or 18 are other possible return dates in case of inclement weather or technical issues. The undocking and landing will be streamed live on NASA’s website, YouTube channel, and app for interested parties. The broadcast will begin at 5:45 p.m. EDT, halt for the undocking, and then pick back up later in the evening to see the last phases of the landing.

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NASA’s plans for Williams and Wilmore

NASA astronauts Williams and Wilmore had initially planned a 10-day stay but will now spend about eight months at the ISS. They were involved in over 40 scientific experiments and other station activities and will continue to contribute to research and maintenance. NASA is arranging their return in February 2024 via a SpaceX Dragon capsule, which is set to launch on September 24 with the Crew-9 mission. Due to the current situation, the Crew-9 mission will have just two members instead of four. The astronauts’ Boeing suits will return with Starliner, while SpaceX suits will be used for the return journey.

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FAQs:

Can I watch the Boeing Starliner’s return live?
Yes, NASA will stream the undocking and landing live on its website, YouTube channel, and app. The live broadcast will start at 5:45 p.m. EDT on Friday, before pausing and resuming for the finalWhat if there are delays with the Starliner’s return?
If weather or technical problems delay the return, NASA has alternative dates set for September 10, 14, or 18. The spacecraft will land in New Mexico once conditions are favorable for re-entry.