United Launch Alliance

Boeing's beleaguered space capsule left the International Space Station at about 5 pm central time, without its astronaut crew. NASA's two test pilots stayed behind at the space station as the Starliner capsule undocked Friday and aimed for a touchdown in New Mexico. Its exit follows months of turmoil over its safety. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams travelled to orbit aboard an Alabama built Atlas-V rocket. APR News Director Pat Duggins joined CBS News anchor Lana Zak for national coverage of the first phase of Starliner’s return to Earth—the undocking of the capsule from the International Space Station.

The astronauts who flew aboard an Alabama built Atlas-V rocket, will now spend extra time at the International Space Station. Both are Navy test pilots who have ridden out long missions before.

NASA’s decision to land two astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule, and not the Starliner craft they used to go to orbit, is considered a blow to Boeing. Despite all the controversy surrounding NASA’s new spacecraft, the Alabama built rocket that carried the Starliner to space did that job.

NASA says the two astronaut test pilots who flew to orbit aboard the new Starliner, which was boosted by an Alabama built rocket, will not return to Earth aboard the new spacecraft.

NASA says chances are growing that two test pilots who flew a new Boeing capsule to the International Space Station in June may have to switch to SpaceX for a ride home. Officials said Wednesday it's still possible astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams can return aboard Boeing's Starliner next month. That decision could also determine if there’s a future in manned spaceflight for the Alabama built Atlas-V rocket.

The Atlas V rocket, built at the United Launch Alliance factory in Decatur launched its final National Security satellite during an early morning blast off at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Engineers at NASA and Boeing continue troubleshooting the new Starliner space capsule that’s docked to the International Space Station. One issue that appears unresolved is the possible impact on jobs here in Alabama.

The FAA has reportedly grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after a launch left a series of internet satellites in the wrong orbit. This may have implications for Boeing’s problematic Starliner and the Alabama built Atlas Five rocket that boosted the new space capsule to orbit

NASA and Boeing continue to try to reassure the press and the public on the new Starliner space capsule. The vehicle was boosted to orbit aboard an Atlas five rocket built in Alabama in early June. The spacecraft has been docked at the International Space Station since then.

Mission managers with NASA and Boeing decided to keep the new Starliner spacecraft docked to the International Space Station until at least early July. The capsule, that was boosted to orbit by an Alabama built Atlas-V rocket, is experiencing problems with the thrusters the two astronaut crew members need to make the fiery trip through Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their mission.