The crew’s return to Earth was scheduled for June 14, but they stayed on the ISS far longer than expected. NASA and Boeing have indicated that the delay was used to conduct tests that are not possible on Earth.
According to a recent NASA announcement, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who arrived at the ISS aboard the Starliner, individually tested 27 of the spacecraft’s 28 engines.
The long-awaited crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner spaceship may soon be completed. On Saturday, July 20, NASA and Boeing’s engineering teams executed a successful hot fire test of the spacecraft’s thrusters. These encouraging results indicate that Starliner’s first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with humans may be completed in the coming days.
The Starliner CST-100 has been parked at the ISS since June 6, after launching on an Atlas V rocket. This launch followed the cancellation of an earlier attempt owing to a reported helium leak. Two more leaks developed after liftoff, and another two were discovered after docking with the ISS. During the initial docking attempt, five engines failed.
Initially, the crew’s return to Earth was slated for June 14, but they stayed aboard the ISS far longer than expected. NASA and Boeing have maintained that the spacecraft is capable of safely returning the astronauts at any moment, and that the delay was used to undertake testing that would be difficult on Earth. The space agency has confirmed that the astronauts are not trapped.
According to a recent NASA announcement, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived at the ISS via the Starliner, individually tested 27 of the spacecraft’s 28 engines. These experiments were designed to examine thruster performance and helium leak rates, and preliminary results indicate that the thrusters are operating within the required margins for a safe return.
In addition to rocket tests, Wilmore and Williams checked the spacecraft’s water systems and interior pressure. The data from these experiments are now being examined. Once the analysis is completed, NASA will reveal the astronauts’ target return date.
Boeing’s announcement suggested that a flight test readiness assessment is expected for late this week. As part of their preparations, the two astronauts will take part in two disconnecting simulations.
The Starliner is part of a $4.3 billion agreement between Boeing and NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Since its inception, the program has encountered various problems, including delays, cost overruns, and technical issues.
These issues have been serious enough that NASA administrator Bill Nelson chastised Boeing in a 2022 interview for falling behind rival SpaceX in the development of a reusable crew capsule.
Despite these obstacles, the successful completion of recent tests gives hope that the Starliner’s first crewed flight would soon be completed, allowing NASA and Boeing to go forward with future missions.
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