Boeing Will Fly Its Empty Capsule Back to Earth Soon, 2 NASA Astronauts Will Stay Behind

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft which launched astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station docked to the Harmony module's forward port on July 3, 2024, seen from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to the adjacent port. NASA via AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—Boeing will attempt to return its problem-plagued capsule from the International Space Station later this week—with empty seats.

NASA said Wednesday that everything is on track for the Starliner capsule to undock from the space station Friday evening. The fully automated capsule will aim for a touchdown in New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range six hours later.