Boeing and NASA are pushing forward with the launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which is set to carry U.S. astronauts for the first time. This decision comes in light of a “stable” leak detected in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. Boeing’s vice president and manager of the company’s Commercial Crew program, Mark Nappi, assured during a press conference that they have identified the causes of the leak and are confident in their ability to manage it. He emphasized that the leak does not pose a safety of flight issue, allowing the mission to proceed as planned.
Boeing is currently aiming for June 1 for the first crewed launch of the Starliner spacecraft, with backup launch opportunities on June 2, June 5, and June 6. The mission, named the Starliner Crew Flight Test, is crucial for the final major development test of the capsule. It involves transporting a pair of NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station before regular missions begin. Notably, the crew debut for Starliner has faced significant delays, contrasting SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, which has been successfully ferrying astronauts for NASA since 2020.
Boeing has incurred substantial costs due to setbacks with the Starliner program, amounting to $1.5 billion in addition to receiving nearly $5 billion from NASA for development. A recent launch attempt on May 6 was called off due to an issue with the Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. After postponing the launch, a small helium leak was detected in Starliner, prompting a detailed assessment of the spacecraft’s readiness for the upcoming mission.
Following thorough analysis by NASA and Boeing, the source of the leak is believed to be a seal within one of the flanges of the spacecraft’s helium propulsion system. Despite efforts to address the issue, the leak rate has reportedly remained stable, leading the teams to closely monitor it leading up to the launch. Once the capsule reaches the International Space Station, they plan to reevaluate the leak rate. It is worth noting that NASA has prior experience with vehicles exhibiting small helium leaks, drawing confidence from successful missions involving the Space Shuttle and SpaceX’s Dragon.
NASA, Boeing, and ULA are scheduled to conduct another review on May 29 to assess the leak and ensure readiness for the upcoming launch. The plan includes rolling out the rocket and capsule to the launch pad on May 30 in preparation for the June 1 launch attempt. Despite the challenges faced, the teams remain committed to advancing the Starliner program and achieving a successful mission to transport U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station.
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