NASA has announced that the return to Earth of the Starliner capsule and its two astronauts is postponed from June 18 to June 22. The postponement will help the Boeing and NASA teams to complete the Starliner preparation operations but also to secure the capsule. In fact, in recent days it seems that the problems with the propulsion system have increased.
The Starliner has been on the ISS since June 6, for its first mission with astronauts, but it is not yet an operational mission. The purpose of the flight is to test all flight, docking and maintenance operations in space before starting regular flights in 2025. To discuss operations and the problems the capsule is currently experiencing in orbit, NASA and Boeing will hold a press conference on June 18th at 6pm Italian time.
“We are continuing to understand Starliner’s capabilities to prepare for the long-term goal of having it fly a six-month mission to dock with the space station,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “The crew will perform additional operations with the hatch to better understand its handling, repeat some ‘safe haven’ tests and evaluate piloting using the forward window.”
Engine problems
NASA also announced that in the next few days a thruster test will be performed while the Starliner is still docked at the ISS. Seven of the eight main engines will be fired in two different tests, for a total duration of one second of thrust. This is a test that should not change the trajectory or attitude of the ISS. The last engine that will not be turned on is offline and appears to be unable to be turned back on in this mission.
Problems with the thrusters also emerged during the approach to the ISS. During the first docking attempt five thrusters went offline, interrupting the docking. Only four were put back into operation to ensure arrival at the ISS.
NASA then said on June 11 that another helium leak had been found on the Starliner, bringing the total to 5. One was detected before departure, and not corrected. Three during the approach to the ISS and one when the capsule was already docked. However, NASA has announced that sufficient helium is available to allow the thrusters to function. This gas is in fact used not as a propellant, but to pressurize the engines. It has not currently been announced whether the helium leaks are linked to the thruster control problems and the only engine still not working.
The engines of the Starliner capsule have always been a rather complicated matter, given that they are not developed and produced directly by Boeing, but entrusted to a third-party company: Aerojet Rocketdyne. In this in-depth video we told the story of Starliner and also the complicated relationship between the two companies.
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