- Boeing launches inaugural NASA mission after delays
- Astronauts en route to International Space Station
- Concerns arise over helium leaks in Starliner
After years of postponement, Boeing successfully launched its inaugural NASA mission to transport two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
On Wednesday, the Boeing CST-100 Starliner departed Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:52 ET (15:52 BST).
After a 25-hour flight, the shuttle and astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are anticipated to arrive at 12:15 ET (17:15 BST) on Thursday.
If successful, this demonstration flight will provide NASA with a second commercial shuttle in addition to the SpaceX Dragon and conclude Boeing’s sequence of unsuccessful launches.
However, NASA has announced that the capsule has experienced two unforeseen helium breaches since entering orbit, despite having completed its initial tests.
The launch of Starliner aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-V rocket was the first time that ULA has conducted a crewed mission.
Before ejecting the bottom section and transitioning to a second stage, the rocket elevated Starliner using its primary booster for just over four minutes.
After a 12-minute burn-time to propel the capsule into orbit, the rocket separated, allowing Starliner to navigate using its thrusters.
The crew also conducted approximately two hours of “free flight” time during the test flight to evaluate the Starliner’s manual controls.
The Starliner was rotated in orbit to evaluate the solar panels, communications devices, and star trackers employed for emergency navigation.
Nevertheless, due to the capsule’s automatic navigation systems, Wilmore and Williams will now primarily serve as passengers for the duration of their voyage.
After docking with the ISS and delivering 139 kg (307 lbs) of supplies to NASA, the duo will spend slightly more than a week aboard the station.
The spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth in a remote desert region of the United States on June 14.
However, NASA has now reported that Starliner has developed three helium leaks despite the successful initial experiments.
In a post on X, previously known as Twitter, NASA announced that “teams have identified three helium leaks on the spacecraft.”
Mission control had identified one of these breaches on the ground; however, they declared that the shuttle was still safe to fly.
Mission control informed the astronauts that they had detected two more helium breaches as they prepared to retire for the night.
Wilmore responded, “We are prepared to ascertain the precise meaning of the phrase “picked up another helium escape,” so please provide it to us.
Nevertheless, mission control stated that they were “still in the process of assembling the narrative.”
NASA has since verified that the crew is unharmed, and the astronauts have resumed their scheduled slumber.
Brandon Burroughs, an aerospace engineer at Boeing, stated on the NASA broadcast, “We have several intelligent individuals on the ground who will examine this material and monitor it, but the vehicle is currently configured in a manner that is safe for flight.”
It is uncertain whether these breaches will result in any significant complications; however, Starliner seems to Be still on course to dock with the ISS later on Thursday.
It is now being launched after over a decade since Boeing was awarded the $4.2 billion contract to develop the Starliner capsule and seven years since its intended launch.
An attempt to launch on May 6, just two hours before launch, was cancelled due to a perceptible “buzzing” caused by valve issues.
A technical malfunction with a launchpad computer terminated an additional launch attempt last Saturday with less than four minutes remaining.
Boeing’s ambition in the commercial space sector will be significantly advanced, and rival SpaceX will be under duress if the craft returns to Earth safely.
The launch’s success will also provide NASA with respite as it increasingly depends on commercial space travel providers.
NASA was compelled to pay approximately $80 million (£64 million) for a berth in a Russian Soyuz capsule to reach the International Space Station after the retirement of the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2011.
However, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) may eventually have two distinct alternatives for transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) after 13 years.
“This was another milestone in the extraordinary history of NASA,” stated NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during a post-launch press conference.
Mr. Nelson stated, “The United States will possess two distinctive human space transportation systems with Dragon and Starliner.” We always prefer to have a fallback system in place to ensure the safety of our astronauts.
Wilmore made a brief speech moments before launch, in which he expressed gratitude to those who had contributed to the mission’s success and referenced the project’s turbulent development.
He stated, “We are all aware that when the going gets tough, and it often does, the tough get going. Suni and I are honoured to share this dream of spaceflight with every one of you.”
As part of the CCP, NASA has already ordered six additional astronaut rotation voyages to the space station.
Also, the Starliner itself is indicative of substantial advancements in shuttle technology.
The CST-100 (Crew Space Transportation) is expected to mitigate the risk of structural failure by employing a “weldless” design.
The Starliner can accommodate up to seven astronauts and can be repurposed up to ten times with a six-month refurbishment period between voyages despite its typical capacity of four passengers.
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Mark Nappi, the vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, asserts that “everyone is committed to ensuring that Suni and Butch have a safe and comfortable journey and that the test mission is executed successfully from beginning to end.”
Boeing, renowned for producing commercial aeroplanes, has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent months following the explosion of a portion of the fuselage of one of its new 737 aircraft.
The company has been prohibited from increasing the production of the aircraft until persistent safety concerns are resolved.
Some experts were also apprehensive about Starliner, as a NASA contractor has cautioned that the mission could be “catastrophic” due to the craft’s recent breach.
