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- NASA again delays Boeing Starliner capsule’s return to Earth (newsbreak.com)
NASA and Boeing have once again postponed the return of the Starliner crew capsule from the International Space Station, choosing to forgo a scheduled June 26 return. This decision, announced late Friday, is to allow further time for the thorough analysis and testing required to fully comprehend helium leak issues and thruster malfunctions. Before determining a new date for landing, NASA intends to conduct a comprehensive re-entry readiness review.
The postponement means that the Starliner’s departure and Earth return will likely be delayed beyond two spacewalks planned at the station on Monday and July 2. However, Starliner commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams are not stranded and can undock and return home promptly if an unexpected problem at the station necessitates an immediate departure.
Officials emphasize that the extension is in line with NASA’s cautious and data-driven approach, particularly in handling the small helium system leaks and thruster issues observed during the capsule’s approach and docking phases. Drawing on past experiences, such as the protocol followed after SpaceX’s Crew Dragon two-month orbital mission in 2020, NASA and Boeing are conducting an agency-level review to ensure all aspects of the mission proceed as safely planned, despite the challenges that were not faced during the SpaceX mission.
The main concern for the Starliner team lies within the service module’s helium leakage and thruster complications, a crucial component that is detached and destroyed before re-entry. Hence, engineers aim to use the extended time in orbit to thoroughly review telemetry data, conduct further tests, and prepare for potential post-undocking issues, all while not having the advantage of physically examining the module upon its return.
This painstaking process also aims to identify necessary modifications to avoid such problems in future missions. With the Starliner’s certification for regular crew missions to the ISS slated for early next year, it’s uncertain whether this goal is still attainable.
Despite these setbacks, the Starliner has been performing well while docked at the space station, according to Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The unexpected delay is being utilized to not only ensure the safety and readiness of Wilmore and Williams for their eventual return but also to allow the space station to conduct other critical activities uninterrupted.
Having been launched four years later than initially planned, primarily due to issues with its Atlas 5 rocket, countdown systems, and an initial helium leak, the Starliner encountered additional challenges en route to the ISS, including additional helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. Nonetheless, a successful “hot-fire” test of the thrusters has boosted confidence in the spacecraft’s capability for a safe return, with sufficient helium reserves on board despite the leaks.
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- NASA again delays Boeing Starliner capsule’s return to Earth (newsbreak.com)