Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft launch is delayed again

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

May 18, 2024 11:13 AM ET


The first crewed launch of Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft has been delayed again, to May 25, this time because of a helium leak in the service module.

NASA had set the liftoff for May 21 after scrubbing a May 6 launch but the helium leak was discovered on Wednesday. While the agency said the leak in the craft's thruster system was stable and wouldn't pose a risk during the flight, "Boeing teams are working to develop operational procedures to ensure the system retains sufficient performance capability and appropriate redundancy during the flight."

While that work is going on, NASA said its Commercial Crew Program (CCP) and the International Space Station Program will review data and procedures before making a final determination whether to proceed with a countdown.

The delay is the latest for the Starliner's first crewed mission, which will carry NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams to the International Space Station. The astronauts are to spend about a week aboard the space station before making a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the southwestern U.S. If that mission is successful, NASA will begin the final process to certify Starliner for crewed rotation missions to the space station.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2024/05/18/1252311564/nasa-boeing-starliner-launch-delayed-international-space-station

[question everything]

1. How do the astronauts feel about the safety of the mission?

[ffr]

2. I'm starting the think that Boeing should stick to the knitting, focus on building reliable airplanes

Rockets doesn't seem to be their thing. And snuffing out whistle blowers is just monstrous behavior.

[speak easy]

3. Much as I loathe Musk, PTL that Boeing is not our only option.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Right now it's either Musk or Russia's Soyuz.

At least during the bridge years before the ISS decommission, there is definitely a need for a backup.

[BaronChocula]

4. Are these normal glitches

in intro'ing new craft/technology? If so, that should be a story. But it seems that Boeing is no stranger to space flight. Is the problem related to incompetence or corporate calls for cash saving. So many questions.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. IIRC, the recent issues have been with the Atlas V rocket

which is a joint Lockheed-Martin/Boeing booster, although that platform is supposed be retired soon.