Starliner Capsule Begins Return to Earth Without Crew, Who Will Remain in Space

Astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmor are expected to stay at the International Space Station until February 2025

Boeing's Starliner capsule has begun its return to Earth without astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore, who are expected to remain in space until next year.

Just after 6:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Sept. 6, the capsule that brought the two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) more than 90 days ago undocked from the ISS (and NASA is streaming the undocking and landing).

The capsule is expected to finish its descent around midnight, landing at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, according to USA Today.

"We have confidence in the vehicle," NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said during a press conference earlier this week, per the outlet. "It’s been a journey to get here, and we’re excited to have Starliner undock and return."

Thec capsule originally left from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida's Space Coast on June 5 — with Williams, 58, and Wilmore, 61, on board. The flight marked the sixth inaugural journey of a crewed spacecraft in U.S. history, NASA said back in May.

Although the trip was expected to take place over the course of about 10 days, the aircraft experienced helium leaks and thrusters weren't functioning during the mission. NASA and Boeing began discussing whether the spacecraft was safe enough to return to Earth in early August.

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By Aug. 24, NASA announced that after debating the safety of their available vehicles, the agency would be asking a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to be sent to the ISS to bring Williams and Wilmore home, with an earliest return date of February 2025.

Related: NASA Makes Decision to Bring Home Astronauts Who Have Been Stuck in Space for 80 Days

Speaking to PEOPLE last month, Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who once spent 340 days at the ISS, said both Wilmore and Williams knew a delay "was a possibility going in."

“I knew them before they were astronauts and we were all test pilots in the Navy," he said of the pair. "They'll be able to handle it."

Kelly also said that Williams is probably excited to spend more time in space. “She is a great spirit of a person and I’m sure she’s not minding being up there for more time,” he said. “She’s very enthusiastic about most things.”

Related: Do the Astronauts Stuck in Space Have Enough Food and Water for Their Mission? NASA Astronaut Explains

Back in July, Williams and Wilmore spoke up themselves about their trip to the ISS — which may be about 8 months long, according to NASA — and gave an interview to CBS News livestreamed from the Space Station.

Williams said at the time she has "a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem."

"But like Butch said, we're learning now to optimize our specific situation and make sure that we know everything about it," she continued, noting that if the pair "just came home" now they would lose some of the data they intend to obtain.

"I have confidence. Butch has confidence. We're here on the space station with our safe haven of Starliner," Williams added.

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