Boeing’s 1st Astronaut Flight Now Set For June After A Review Of Small Leak On New Capsule

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – Boeing is now aiming for its first human launch in early June, having spent the previous two weeks dealing with further issues with the space capsule.

Despite a propulsion system leak, officials from Boeing and NASA have assured that the Starliner spacecraft is equipped to safely transport two test pilots to the International Space Station. The minor helium leak, identified following the initial launch attempt on May 6, was promptly addressed and resolved, demonstrating the commitment to safety.

Boeing | Medium Image

Boeing’s 1st Astronaut Flight Now Set For June After A Review Of Small Leak On New Capsule

Engineers suspect a faulty rubber seal the size of a shirt button and claim that even if the leak grows, it can be fixed in flight. According to NASA’s commercial crew program manager, Steve Stich, all of the capsule’s other seals checked out, prompting officials to set the launch date for June 1.

This will be Starliner’s third test flight. Demos in 2019 and 2022 had no one on board. Boeing was forced to repeat the empty trip the first time due to software and other issues.

If not for the Atlas V rocket’s faulty valve, which halted the first countdown, Starliner would have launched from Cape Canaveral earlier this month, with the leak discovered in orbit, according to Stich. Officials said that flight controllers would have handled the leak, and the astronauts would have been safe. Helium is utilized to pressurize the fuel lines of the propulsion system, which moves the capsule in flight.

Boeing | Washington Times Image

Boeing’s 1st Astronaut Flight Now Set For June After A Review Of Small Leak On New Capsule

Engineers now know where the leak is, which, according to Boeing program manager Mark Nappi, will help them improve the system in the future.

“Remember that this is a test flight. “We are still learning,” Nappi told reporters.

According to Stich, the discovery of the Starliner leak revealed yet another issue — “a design vulnerability” in the propulsion system in the improbable scenario of a series of failures. He said that the crew had devised workaround measures to safely remove the capsule from orbit at the end of the trip if such issues emerged.

“We’re not going to fly until we’re sure we’re safe,” NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free stated.

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Boeing’s first astronaut flight is now scheduled for June following a review of a minor leak in the new capsule.

Boeing’s Starliner capsule has already been years late carrying passengers to the International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX has launched crews since 2020. NASA wants both companies to provide taxi service to support each other.

SOURCE – (AP)