In June 2024, astronauts Sunita Williams and Wilmore embarked on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to test Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. This eight-day mission was part of a broader effort to demonstrate the capabilities of the Starliner. Following the mission, Boeing's Starliner successfully undocked from the ISS and returned to Earth unmanned, while the crew remained on the station.
The mission drew significant attention as it countered a narrative presented by former President Donald Trump, who suggested that political reasons led to a sense of 'abandonment.' Moreover, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, accused the Biden administration of delaying the return of ISS astronauts due to political motives, indicating that the delay was associated with the Boeing Starliner capsule.
Despite these controversies, the mission highlighted Boeing's technological developments and operational successes. The Starliner's journey to and from the ISS demonstrated its capability to dock and undock autonomously, contributing to NASA's ongoing efforts to expand its fleet of spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to and from the ISS.
Meanwhile, SpaceX also made history by launching a rocket from Florida, which later saw its booster successfully land in the Bahamas. This achievement underscored the competitive and rapidly advancing arena of space exploration and technology development.