NASA postpones return of Starliner spacecraft to June 26

NASA announced this Tuesday (June 18, 2024), the postponement of Starliner’s return to Earth. The spacecraft, produced in partnership with Boeing, will land on June 26 in New Mexico, a state in the southern United States.

Starliner took astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni William to the ISS (International Space Station) at the beginning of the month. NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, said the postponement was intended to ensure a safe return.

The spacecraft, designed for missions of up to 6 months, can be attached to the ISS for a maximum of 45 days in the current mission. The return begins on June 25th at 11:10 pm (Brasília time), when the spacecraft will undock from the ISS.

The journey should take around 6 hours and is destined for the White Sands spaceport. The location may be redefined depending on weather conditions.