After a series of delays and setbacks, Boeing insisted their Starliner capsule was safe to return Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), but NASA disagreed. 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.

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.