Astronauts express disappointment as Boeing capsule departs without them

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams expressed their disappointment after witnessing the return of their Boeing Starliner capsule to Earth without them. This event occurred after NASA determined that the capsule posed too much risk for them to ride back, despite it being their transport to the International Space Station in June. The astronauts, now fully integrated into the station crew, are involved in routine maintenance and experiments while awaiting their return. The Starliner capsule faced multiple issues, including thruster failures and helium leaks, before successfully docking at the space station on June 6. It landed safely in the New Mexico desert earlier this month, but the future of Boeing's role in NASA's commercial crew program remains uncertain. Wilmore and Williams, both experienced NASA astronauts and retired Navy captains, will remain at the International Space Station until late February. They are scheduled to return on a SpaceX capsule, which is set to launch later this month with two empty seats reserved for them. The astronauts expressed gratitude for the support and well wishes they received from the public. Their experience highlights the challenges faced in space travel and the importance of safety in the aerospace industry, especially as SpaceX has been successfully flying astronauts since 2020, contrasting with Boeing's troubled path.