NASA is gearing up for the undocking of the Boeing Space’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, June 25. The spacecraft, which has been attached to the ISS since June 6, is now ready to go on its journey back to Earth. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been traveling aboard the Starliner since its maiden crewed test, will be returning home after spending an extended period of time on the spacecraft.
The original plan was for the Starliner’s mission to last for about a week, but NASA extended the stay to investigate issues with some of the spacecraft’s reaction control thrusters and five helium leaks that occurred during its journey to the ISS. The thrusters are crucial for maintaining the spacecraft’s orientation and determining its path, and NASA engineers are working to ensure that the thrusters are functioning properly before allowing the spacecraft to proceed with its return journey.
The undocking process is scheduled to take place at 10:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 25, and will be broadcast live on NASA’s official stream. Viewers will be able to watch the Starliner edge away from the ISS, which orbits about 250 miles above Earth. The spacecraft is expected to remain docked for approximately seven hours before beginning its descent to Earth.
Undocking and Landing of Starliner Spacecraft from International Space Station
On Wednesday, June 26, NASA will broadcast live coverage of the Starliner’s landing, which is expected to take place at 4:51 a.m. ET. The spacecraft will use a parachute-assisted landing in the desert at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. The live broadcast will also include audio feeds between the astronauts and the mission team, giving viewers a firsthand account of the spacecraft’s return to Earth.
NASA has made available multiple platforms for viewers to tune in and watch the undocking and landing process. In addition to its official stream, NASA will also broadcast the event on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and its YouTube channel. Viewers can also watch the coverage via the player embedded at the top of this page.
The entire journey, from undocking to landing, is expected to take almost eight hours, with the spacecraft traveling over 7,000 miles to reach its destination. The Starliner’s successful return to Earth marks a significant milestone in NASA’s efforts to develop a reliable and reusable spacecraft, and marks a major step forward in the agency’s plans to return humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars.
