The return to Earth of the Boeing Starliner from the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for June 26, has once again been postponed, NASA announced Friday evening. This new postponement will allow more time to examine the propellant malfunctions and the helium leaks which had already caused a first delay, NASA added.
Third helium leak identified on Starliner, Boeing’s spacecraft en route to the ISS
“ NASA and Boeing Executives Adjust Starliner Crew Flight Test Spacecraft’s Return to Earth “, NASA said in a post published late Friday evening.
The postponement of the departure planned for “ Wednesday June 26 ends the undocking and landing of the Starliner (…) while giving (the) mission teams time to examine the propulsion system data “, he indicated. “ We take our time and follow the standard process of our team who manages the mission “, said NASA official Steve Stich.
“ We let the data guide our decision making regarding the management of small leaks from the helium system and the performance of the thrusters that we observed during rendezvous and docking “, did he declare.
Major issue for Boeing
Steve Stitch added that Starliner, crewed by two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, “ works well in orbit when docked to the space station “. NASA said the crew was in no rush to leave the station because it is well stocked and ” the station’s schedule is relatively open until mid-August “.
Space: after two cancellations, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will try to take off again
This first-ever crewed Starliner mission was intended to demonstrate that this vehicle is safe to begin regular space taxi operations. However, even before taking off into space, the ship had encountered difficulties. The ship took off from Florida on June 5, years late and several last-minute postponements.
Starliner’s first crewed mission to the ISS, which was initially scheduled to last around eight days, has de facto been extended until an as yet undetermined date. As a reminder, the stay in the ISS of the two astronauts transported by Starliner was extended due to propellant problems and helium leaks.
The initial docking with the ISS was delayed by more than an hour after problems starting some of the Starliner’s thrusters used for advanced maneuvers. A helium leak affected the Starliner before its launch. Although incombustible, helium puts pressure on the propulsion system. However, other leaks appeared during the flight.
Space: Boeing’s Starliner is set to take off with astronauts on board for the first time
Starliner represents a major challenge for the aeronautical giant Boeing, which is also facing production quality problems in its commercial aviation branch. In 2014, NASA ordered two new vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company, to transport its astronauts to the ISS. But if SpaceX has been playing this role of space taxi for four years now, Boeing’s program has experienced multiple disappointments and fallen behind schedule. Once Starliner is operational, NASA wants to alternate between SpaceX and Boeing flights.
(With AFP)
