Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft faces one-week delay earlier than first crewed mission
(CNN) — The extremely anticipated first crewed mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has been postponed for not less than yet one more week. Originally scheduled for May 17, the launch was delayed after groups found a small helium leak within the spacecraft’s service module, as reported in a press release from Boeing.
The leak was traced to a flange on a single response management system booster, the place helium is utilized to ignite the boosters. Boeing crews at the moment are concentrating on a brand new launch date of 4:43 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 21 to permit for added testing.
The upcoming mission, named Crewed Flight Test, represents a vital step in direction of NASA figuring out the readiness of Boeing’s spacecraft for routine operations inside the company’s Commercial Crew Program.
Both Boeing and NASA are actively engaged on assessments and options for the leak. Boeing plans to pressurize the propulsion system to the extent it might be at simply earlier than launch after which let the helium system vent naturally. Following a evaluation of information from the May 6 launch try, Boeing reported no different points.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who’re set to crew the mission for a week-long keep on the International Space Station, had been in pre-flight quarantine however returned to Houston on May 10 to spend time with their households throughout the preflight operations. They are anticipated to fly again to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida within the coming days.
The upcoming launch marks a big milestone for Boeing, culminating in a decade-long effort to develop a spacecraft able to ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station as a part of NASA’s business program. If profitable, this mission would solely be the sixth maiden voyage of a manned spacecraft in U.S. historical past, based on NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
Despite setbacks and delays within the growth of Starliner, Boeing goals to rival SpaceX’s profitable Crew Dragon capsule within the realm of manned spaceflight. Once aboard, Williams will make historical past as the primary lady to affix such a mission.
With the spacecraft now focused for launch subsequent week, Williams and Wilmore will embark on a mission to the area station, spending a few week there earlier than returning residence aboard the Starliner capsule, which is about to parachute and land within the southwestern United States.
As each Boeing and NASA work diligently to handle the current points, the world continues to observe eagerly for the profitable launch of Starliner, marking a big milestone within the ongoing collaboration between personal trade and the area company.