NASA's decision to abort the crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft has set the stage for an unmanned return trip from orbit. The space capsule, which faced significant safety concerns, will attempt to land in New Mexico early Saturday if all goes according to plan.

After a mission that strained relations between Boeing and NASA, the Starliner's return will mark the end of a test flight that raised doubts about when the spacecraft will be fully operational. In June, the Starliner successfully transported astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS). However, due to equipment issues, NASA deemed it unfit to bring them back to Earth, and the astronauts will now be brought home by a SpaceX capsule instead, remaining at the station until February.

On Friday, the uncrewed Starliner is scheduled to undock at 6:04 p.m., subject to weather conditions. Using thruster burns, it will maneuver its way towards Earth, initiating its descent into the atmosphere. NASA officials anticipate that the capsule will land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico around 12:03 a.m. on Saturday.

The return of the Starliner without Wilmore and Williams aboard signifies a significant setback for Boeing, as the test flight was intended to pave the way for more routine operational missions. However, issues with thrusters and helium leaks experienced during the voyage to the ISS led NASA to deem a fully crewed round trip as too risky. As a result, Boeing will need to continue conducting ground tests on the Starliner to obtain full certification for future crewed flights, according to NASA.

Boeing remained tight-lipped about the future of the Starliner beyond its return. In a statement, the company emphasized its focus on crew and spacecraft safety, stating that they are following NASA's mission plan and preparing for a successful unmanned return.

Despite this setback, more challenges lie ahead. The SpaceX Dragon mission, scheduled for September 24, will bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth. The Dragon capsule, currently docked at the ISS since March, has been modified as an emergency return vehicle for the astronauts. Originally planned for a full contingent of four astronauts, the Crew-9 mission was scaled down to accommodate Wilmore and Williams.

Dana Weigel, NASA's ISS program manager, revealed that she has corresponded with Wilmore and Williams, confirming their readiness and approval of the plan. She expressed confidence in their ability to execute any mission assigned to them.

As the troubled Boeing Starliner capsule prepares for its return from orbit without its intended crew, all eyes will be on the spacecraft's safe landing and the subsequent steps Boeing must take to address the challenges it faced during this test flight. The future of the Starliner's operational capabilities remains uncertain, as NASA and Boeing continue their efforts to ensure the safety and reliability of crewed missions to the ISS.