Boeing Starliner to Make Unpiloted Return to Earth Friday

Lukewarm capsule hatch finally closed, now on track to land Sunday

The hatches have finally closed on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, setting the stage for an unpiloted return to Earth on Friday. The spacecraft is expected to land in the desert of New Mexico on Sunday after a five-day mission.

Hatch issues delay uncrewed flight test-2

The hatches on the Starliner spacecraft have been giving Boeing problems since the beginning of the uncrewed flight test-2 (OFT-2). The hatch issue caused NASA and Boeing to scrub the capsule's launch in August after repeated failed attempts to close the hatch properly.

Unable to fix the hatch issue in time for an August launch, Boeing replaced the capsule's hatch with one from a previous Starliner spacecraft. The replacement hatch, which was installed in September, was not without its own problems. It took several attempts to properly close the hatch, delaying the launch by weeks. Boeing Starliner OFT-2 mission delayed to allow more time for hatch testing , spacenews.com, 2022

NASA is not taking any chances with the Starliner's hatch, having Boeing conduct a "thorough inspection and verification" of the hatch and its related hardware before giving the green light for the unpiloted flight test-2 (OFT-2).

OFT-2 testing propulsion system in space

The unpiloted flight-test 2 mission will test the Starliner spacecraft's ability to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft will also test its propulsion system in space and land on its own in the desert of New Mexico.

NASA is hoping to use the unpiloted flight test-2 to clear the way for a crewed flight test in 2023. The crewed flight test will be the final major milestone before NASA certifies the Starliner spacecraft for operational missions to the ISS. OFT-2 Starliner completes first mission extension ahead of return to Earth , spacenews.com, 2023

Starliner to compete with SpaceX Crew Dragon

The Starliner spacecraft is Boeing's answer to SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. Both spacecraft are designed to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. NASA is hoping to use both spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the ISS, ending its reliance on Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

The Starliner spacecraft has had a number of problems during its development and testing, while the Crew Dragon spacecraft has flown several successful missions to the ISS. OFT-2 Starliner ends docking test with ISS after second extension , spacenews.com, 2023

NASA is hoping that the unpiloted flight test-2 will be a success and pave the way for a crewed flight test next year. If all goes well, the Starliner spacecraft could be certified for operational missions to the ISS in 2024. NASA's Boeing Starliner Completes Spacewalk, Prepares for Undocking, nasa.gov, 2023