Boeing may have to carry out another Starliner test flight
NASA still wants Boeing to transport people to the ISS. The Starliner may have to prove itself in another unmanned test flight.
Starliner spacecraft docked with the ISS
(Image: NASA)
The first manned flight of the Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station (ISS) was a debacle. The US space agency NASA would nevertheless like to send Boeing's space shuttle to the station again. However, Boeing is to carry out another test flight before NASA releases the spacecraft for regular manned flights.
NASA is examining a number of options for the Starliner, said Steve Stich, head of the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) at the US space agency, at a press conference. These include flying the spacecraft unmanned. "We would like to do this one flight and then start the crew rotation flights," Stich said , according to a report by the British news agency Reuters.
Engine test on Earth and in space
During this new test flight, all changes that have been made to the Starliner are to be checked. In particular, the engines – would be tested first on earth in the summer and then again in space. Only then should Boeing undertake regular crew transports to the space station.
The flight to the ISS in June last year was the fourth test flight of the Starliner and the first manned flight. The plan was for Suni Williams and his colleague Barry Wilmore to stay on the station for five days. Due to problems, however, they had to stay on board the ISS and only returned to Earth last week.
The reason was problems with the Starliner's propulsion system. There were several helium leaks and difficulties with the engines, which delayed the docking. In the end, it seemed safer to let the spacecraft return to Earth without Williams and Wilmore on board.
Boeing was supposed to begin regular manned flights to the ISS as early as 2017. However, this schedule could not be met. Boeing postponed the first flight several times due to delays in development. When the time came in 2019, the engines did not fire at the right time due to a software error and the Starliner did not make it to the ISS. Boeing's financial loss from the Starliner program now amounts to around 2 billion US dollars.
(wpl)