Two astronauts left behind on ISS as troubled Boeing Starliner capsule

Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which has been plagued with problems, has returned to Earth, leaving two astronauts behind on the International Space Station (ISS).

The spacecraft – running on autopilot – parachuted into the New Mexico desert six hours after setting out.

Cameras caught the capsule as a white streak coming in for the touchdown at 11.01pm local time (5.01am on Saturday UK time), which drew cheers from Boeing’s Mission Control.

NASA judged it too risky for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to get back into the spacecraft.

It means they’ll remain on the ISS until February, more than eight months after blasting off on what should have been a quick trip lasting just eight days.

Shortly after Boeing’s long-delayed capsule was launched in orbit in June, issues were spotted before it arrived at the space station involving multiple thruster failures and propulsion-system helium leaks.

Boeing carried out extensive thruster tests in space and on the ground and said the vessel could safely bring the astronauts back.

But NASA disagreed, preferring to leave them on the station.

There were some snags during Starliner’s reentry, including more thruster issues, but Starliner made a “bull’s-eye landing,” said NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich.

Boeing has suffered several problems after signing a contract with NASA worth more than $4bn (£3bn) a…