AFP
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has finally taken off with its first astronauts to the ISS
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft finally took off on Wednesday from Florida towards the International Space Station with astronauts on board for the first time, a mission which should help to extend the short list of space vehicles carrying human beings. After years successive postponements and two takeoff attempts canceled at the last moment in one month, Boeing must demonstrate during this test flight that Starliner is safe to begin its regular operations, however four years behind SpaceX, which already ensures the transport of NASA astronauts to the Space Station (ISS) since 2020. The takeoff of the Atlas V rocket from the ULA group, with the Starliner capsule at its top, took place at 10:52 a.m. from Cape Canaveral in Florida (2:52 p.m. GMT). NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, two space veterans, make up the crew. “Suni and I are honored to share this dream of spaceflight with each of you,” said Butch Wilmore, the commander of the mission, a few minutes before takeoff. The two astronauts must spend a little over a week in the International Space Station, then always return aboard Starliner. The American space agency wishes to have a second spacecraft in addition to that of SpaceX in order to better be able to deal with possible problems on one of the capsules or emergency situations. The third takeoff attempt was therefore the right one. Twice, at the beginning of May and then last week, takeoff was canceled at the last moment, even though the astronauts had already taken their places on board and the rocket was filled with fuel. The culprits were first a valve problem on the rocket, then a problem with the electricity supply to one of the computers on the ground. A small helium leak on one of the propellers of the Boeing spacecraft also caused problems. additional analysis time, but it was ultimately decided not to repair it before the flight, as it did not represent a danger according to NASA.- “Butch and Suni” -Butch Wilmore, 61, and Suni Williams, 58 years old, have each already 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 24 hours after launch, around 4:15 p.m. GMT on Thursday. It carries with it an unexpected cargo, added at the last minute: a new pump for the system for recycling astronauts’ urine into water in the ISS. The pump on board has recently stopped functioning and the urine must in the meantime be stored in tanks, but these capacities are limited. – Multiple disappointments – Boeing, also shaken by safety problems on its planes, is also gambling with 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 discovered subsequently – on the parachutes braking the capsule during its return to the atmosphere, or even flammable adhesive tape that had to be removed from the interior of the vehicle – further delayed its first crewed flight. This is essential for Starliner to obtain the coveted NASA certification. Only a handful of American ships have transported astronauts in the past. After the shutdown of the American space shuttles in 2011, NASA astronauts had to travel aboard the 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 spacecraft. Once Starliner is operational, NASA wishes to alternate between the flights of SpaceX and Boeing.Elon Musk, the boss of SpaceX, wished Wednesday morning on X “good luck” to the Boeing mission. the/cha
