Under a NASA space mission, Indian-origin Sunita Williams and American Barry Butch Wilmore went on a trip to the International Space Station (ISS) for only 8 days. However, due to a technical fault in the spacecraft, they got stuck in the ISS. Now their spacecraft Starliner has also returned to Earth without any passengers. Sunita Williams and Barry Butch remained stranded in the ISS. Starliner has landed in the desert of Mexico. NASA has also released a video of this.
Before the Starliner took off, astronaut Sunita Williams said, “Good luck on your return to Earth.” Let us tell you that Sunita Williams and Wilmore were supposed to return to Earth in June itself. But due to helium leak and thruster malfunction, their return has not been possible till now. NASA had said that returning from Starliner is dangerous for both. In such a situation, Starliner is returning to Earth with empty seats. It is being told that now SpaceX will bring both of them back to Earth by the end of February. In such a situation, this eight-day mission will become eight months long.
This is Boeing’s first space flight in which such a problem has occurred. NASA has chosen Boeing and SpaceX as orbital taxi service. Boeing had to face many problems during the test flight itself. There were problems twice during the launch of Starliner. Once there was a problem of helium leak. After this, five thrusters failed. Four of these thrusters were repaired. Boeing conducted many tests and said that the spacecraft would bring back the passengers safely. However, NASA did not agree with this.
Now NASA has expressed confidence in SpaceX for the return of both the astronauts. Both the astronauts can return in February. Starliner took off from the Space Center at around 3:30 am Indian time. Six hours later, i.e. around 9.30 am, it landed in the desert of Mexico.