This Week In Space podcast: Episode 128 —Starliner is Back! What Now?

On Episode 128 of This Week In Space , Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk about what's going on with Boeing's Starliner CST-100 spacecraft.

Starliner is back and, by all accounts, could have returned with its crew had it been necessary. However, with NASA's "safety forward" approach prevailing, the spacecraft landed uncrewed on September 6, three months after it docked with the International Space Station. Now, the work begins to try to solve the problems- largely software changes, dealing with balky thrusters, and helium leaks- so that the Starliner Crew 1 can fly next year.

But how did we get here? What's NASA's take on the latest Starliner mission? And, perhaps above all, how will Boeing approach the program moving ahead? We'll bring you the latest and greatest--and fear not, we have Tariq here to keep us fair.

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Space news of the week

• Polaris Dawn Spacewalk
• orbital record
• SpaceX Starship delay
• SpaceX Statement re Environmental Review
• Lunar Eclipse on Sept. 17
• Starliner Return
• Starliner Wrapup

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About This Week In Space

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.