Tag: Starliner

Astronauts Remain at ISS as Engineers Examine Issues with Starliner’s Propulsion System

The Washington Post reports, “Before Boeing’s first flight with humans on its Starliner spacecraft earlier this month, the company and NASA said repeatedly that a rigorous testing program following years of delays and costly setbacks meant it was finally ready to fly astronauts. Instead of coming home after about eight days, the spacecraft remains docked to the station, its return delayed indefinitely while teams continue to troubleshoot a series of problems in the capsule’s propulsion system.”
Full Story (The Washington Post – Subscription Publication)

Starliner Return Delayed a Few More Days as NASA and Boeing Study Data

Ars Technica reports, “NASA and Boeing will take an additional four days to review all available data about the performance of the Starliner spacecraft before clearing the vehicle to return to Earth, officials said Tuesday. Based on the new pending schedule, Starliner would undock at 10:10 pm ET on Tuesday, June 25, from the ISS. This would set up a landing at 4:51 ET on June 26 at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)

Starliner Astronaut Mission Extended Through June 18

SPACE reports “’@NASA and @BoeingSpace teams set a return date of no earlier than Tuesday, June 18, for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. The additional time in orbit will allow the crew to perform a spacewalk on Thursday, June 13, while engineers complete #Starliner systems checkouts,’ NASA ISS officials said on Sunday (June 9) via X.”
Full Story (SPACE)

Boeing Starliner Docks with Space Station

The Washington Post reports, “Boeing’s Starliner capsule, carrying a pair of NASA astronauts, docked with the International Space Station on Thursday, completing the first leg of an important test flight after several of its thrusters went offline, forcing a dramatic, last-minute scramble to troubleshoot the issue.”
Full Story (The Washington Post)

AIAA Statement on Successful Starliner Launch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher:

“Congratulations to the entire Starliner team and NASA Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams on their launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. We are excited to witness this new capability coming online. The entire team has worked diligently to address the challenges in reaching this day. We will be eagerly following the crew’s journey.

This mission demonstrates the powerful collaboration that is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, including the launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule on an Atlas V rocket provided by United Launch Alliance (ULA). This program is important to open up access to space for more human activities. The Starliner mission is helping extend the human neighborhood beyond planet Earth.

On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, congratulations to the entire Starliner team on their accomplishment. AIAA recognizes the countless industry professionals who have helped design, build, test, and operate Starliner. We applaud NASA and AIAA Corporate Partner Boeing and AIAA Corporate Member ULA, along with the entire Starliner team, for taking this step forward in shaping the future of aerospace.”

Media contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

 

Video

ULA Atlas V Launch with Boeing’s Starliner Capsule
(VideoFromSpace; YouTube; Launch occurs at 4:09:32)

Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Cleared for June 1 Launch

SPACE reports, “The first-ever astronaut launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, known as Crew Flight Test, is ‘go’ for its planned June 1 launch, NASA announced today (May 29). CFT will send NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) for a roughly week-long stay. The mission is set to launch atop a ULA Atlas V rocket on Saturday at 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, on Florida’s Space Coast.”
Full Story (SPACE)

Helium Leak Presents No Safety Threat to Boeing’s Starliner Capsule According to NASA

CBS News reports that engineers are confident the leak will not worsen in flight, and even if it does, the Starliner can safely launch June 1. The article cites Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, who said that “even if a suspect shirt-button-size rubber seal in the plumbing leading to one specific thruster failed completely in flight — resulting in a leak rate 100 times worse than what’s been observed to date — the Starliner could still fly safely.”
Full Story (CBS News)

June 1 Set as New Target Date for Starliner’s Crew Flight Test

Spaceflight Now reports that the latest launch date was announced late Wednesday evening, following a Tuesday night notice that May 25 was off the table. Liftoff of the Atlas 5 rocket on June 1 is set for 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 UTC). A press briefing is now set for Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) to discuss the work done and the path forward to launch. “Williams and Wilmore continue to remain in quarantine in Houston, Texas, and have spent the additional weeks conducting further simulator training to prepare for the mission.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)