(Updates with latest events)

Aug 24 (Reuters) -

NASA will return Boeing's ( BA ) faulty Starliner capsule to

Earth without astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who

will return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA

chief Bill Nelson

said

on Saturday.

Starliner launched its first two astronauts, both former

military test pilots, into space on June 5 as a crucial test

before it can receive NASA approval for routine flights. But

what was supposed to be an eight-day mission docked to the ISS

has been drawn out by months after the capsule sprang leaks and

some of its thrusters failed.

Here's a rundown of key events in Starliner's journey to

space over the past few years:

Sept. 4, 2015 - Boeing ( BA ) takes the wraps off an assembly plant

for its first line of commercial spaceships, which NASA plans to

use to fly crews to the ISS.

Nov. 4, 2019 - Boeing ( BA ) says one of three parachutes failed to

open during a crucial unmanned test of the Starliner.

Dec. 20, 2019 - Boeing ( BA ) successfully launches its new

astronaut capsule on an uncrewed debut journey to the ISS.

Dec. 22, 2019 - The spacecraft makes a "bullseye" landing in

the New Mexico desert.

Jan. 7, 2020 - NASA and Boeing ( BA ) investigate a software glitch

that prevented the unmanned capsule from reaching the ISS in its

Dec. 2019 flight.

Feb. 6, 2020 - The NASA review panel says Boeing ( BA ) narrowly

missed a "catastrophic failure" during its December flight test.

Aug. 25, 2020 - The first Starliner crewed mission is

tentatively slated for 2021, with Boeing ( BA ) aiming to complete

software and test hardware production development.

Oct. 7, 2020 - The chief astronaut for Starliner's crewed

flight to the ISS, Chris Ferguson, steps down from the job,

citing family priorities. He is replaced by Wilmore.

July 29, 2021 - A space station mishap prompts NASA to

postpone the launch of the Starliner.

Aug. 3, 2021 - Boeing ( BA ) postpones Starliner launch after new

glitch.

Aug. 13, 2021 - Boeing ( BA ) returns the spacecraft to the factory

to resolve a valve issue, delaying the launch date until at

least mid-October if not later.

May 19, 2022 - The Starliner capsule launches on a do-over

uncrewed test flight bound for the ISS.

May 20, 2022 - The Starliner capsule, without astronauts

onboard, docked for the first time with the ISS.

Aug 25, 2022 - Boeing ( BA ) announces it is targeting early 2023

for the first Starliner mission carrying astronauts.

June 1, 2023 - Boeing ( BA ) says it is standing down from late

preparations for its first crewed Starliner test flight to

space, which was planned for July 2023, after it discovered two

safety-critical issues with the spacecraft.

May 3, 2024 - Boeing ( BA ) poised to send the first Starliner

space capsule with a crew of humans into orbit the following

week, after a year's delay.

May 6, 2024 - The first crewed test flight of the new

Starliner space capsule was postponed after the planned May 6

launch countdown was halted over a fault with the Atlas V

rocket.

May 7, 2024 - NASA says new targeted launch date for the

mission was set to May 17 at the earliest.

May 14, 2024 - Boeing ( BA ) says the Starliner mission had been

delayed again - until at least May 21 - over an issue with the

spacecraft's propulsion system.

May 17, 2024 - NASA and Boeing ( BA ) delayed the launch of the

Starliner crew capsule again to check helium leak, targeting May

25.

May 21, 2024 - NASA again delayed the debut crew flight to

spend more time evaluating the helium leak in the spacecraft's

propulsion system.

May 22, 2024 - NASA and Boeing ( BA ) target June 1 for the launch.

June 1, 2024 - A second attempt at launching the Starliner

with astronauts on board was automatically halted with minutes

to go before liftoff by a computer-abort system.

June 2, 2024 - Boeing ( BA ) and NASA target June 5 for the launch.

June 5, 2024 - The Starliner astronaut capsule was

successfully launched from Florida with two astronauts aboard,

with docking with the ISS scheduled for June 6.

June 6, 2024 - The Starliner capsule and an inaugural

two-member NASA crew safely docked with the International Space

Station.

June 11, 2024 - NASA and Boeing ( BA ) say they expect the

Starliner capsule to return as soon as June 18, later than a

previously scheduled return, citing fixes to faulty components

on the capsule, and weather conditions among others.

June 21, 2024 - NASA further postponed the Starliner's

return to Earth, to allow more time for review of technical

issues encountered.

June 27, 2024 - NASA says it would continue to

evaluate

Starliner's propulsion system performance along with

Boeing ( BA ).

Aug 7, 2024 - NASA says the two astronauts could return on

SpaceX's Crew Dragon in February 2025 if Starliner is still

deemed unsafe to return to Earth.

Aug 24, 2024 - The Starliner capsule is returning to

Earth

without

astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard, after

NASA chief Bill Nelson said the duo will need to return on a

SpaceX vehicle early next year.