NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams revealed that the Boeing Starliner came close to failing its docking attempt with the International Space Station on June 5, 2024.

During the approach, the spacecraft lost multiple thrusters, including a crucial fourth thruster, which affected its maneuverability.

Despite the risk of aborting the mission, NASA waived flight rules to continue.

The astronauts, worried about losing communication with Mission Control, faced a precarious situation.

Eventually, NASA took control of the spacecraft to complete the docking, Fox News has reported.

The Starliner returned to Earth on September 7, 2024, without astronauts onboard, and they completed their unexpected 9-month stay on the ISS, returning in a SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule on March 18, 2025.

Written by B.C. Begley