This mission has been awaited for years and represents a major challenge for the American aeronautical giant and NASA.
And three: the first takeoff with astronauts of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will be attempted for the third time in a month this Wednesday, a mission awaited for years and which represents a major challenge for the aeronautical giant and NASA. Takeoff is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. from Cape Canaveral in Florida (4:52 p.m. Paris time) and the weather forecast looks favorable.
American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams must take place aboard the Starliner capsule, placed atop an Atlas V rocket from the ULA group, which must propel it into orbit. They must then spend about a week in the International Space Station (ISS), and then return again aboard Starliner, in order to prove that this new vehicle is safe and can begin its regular flights.
Boeing has accumulated years of delay on its program, thus allowing itself to be largely beaten by SpaceX, which has already been transporting NASA astronauts to the ISS since 2020. But the American space agency wants to have a second vessel in order to better be able to deal with possible emergency situations or problems on one of the capsules.
Twice, at the beginning of May and then last week, takeoff was canceled at the last moment due to technical problems, even though the astronauts had already taken their places on board and the rocket was filled with fuel. A valve problem on the rocket, then a problem with the electricity supply to one of the computers on the ground, responsible for these cancellations, have since been repaired. A small helium leak on one of the Boeing spacecraft’s thrusters also led to additional analysis time, but it was ultimately decided not to repair it, as it did not represent a danger according to NASA.
“Butch and Suni”
Butch Wilmore, 61, and Suni Williams, 58, have each been to the ISS twice and have been training for several years for this mission. After takeoff, they must temporarily switch to manual piloting to test its proper functioning. Both test pilots from the US Navy, they actively participated in the development of Starliner, this example of which was named Calypso, in homage to Commander Cousteau’s ship.
The ship is due to dock with the ISS around 12:15 p.m. Thursday (6:15 p.m. Paris time). It carries with it an unexpected cargo: a new pump for the system for recycling astronauts’ urine into water in the ISS. The pump on board recently stopped working and urine must be stored in tanks in the meantime, but these capacities are limited.
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Multiple disappointments
Boeing, also shaken by safety problems on its planes, is also gambling on its reputation with this mission. The development of Starliner was marred by multiple disappointments. After a failed first uncrewed test flight in 2019, the empty vehicle only managed to reach the ISS in May 2022.
Other problems subsequently discovered – on the parachutes braking the capsule during its return to the atmosphere, or even flammable adhesive tape having to be removed from the interior of the vehicle – further delayed its first flight with crew. This is essential for Starliner to obtain the coveted NASA certification.
Only a handful of American ships have carried astronauts in the past. After the shutdown of the American space shuttles in 2011, NASA astronauts had to travel aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft. It was to put an end to this dependence that in 2014, the American space agency signed a contract with Boeing and SpaceX for the development of new vessels. Once Starliner is operational, NASA wants to alternate between SpaceX and Boeing flights.
