The Starliner spacecraft, which has long competed with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, is finally preparing for its first crewed flight, according to ArsTechnica.
Developed and constructed by the legendary Boeing, Starliner has faced serious issues, similar to those in the aviation sector, causing several years of delays—it was originally supposed to precede Crew Dragon, which has since completed over 10 crewed missions.
No Solution in Sight
The launch of Starliner is currently scheduled for June 1st, but NASA has discovered additional flaws in the spacecraft. The last delay was due to the Atlas V rocket by United Launch Alliance (ULA), partly owned by Boeing. This time, the issues are with Starliner itself. NASA has identified a helium leak among several other faults that could prevent the spacecraft from leaving orbit. While the risk of astronauts being unable to return to Earth is very small, alternative solutions have been found, albeit imperfect ones. Starliner has previously encountered problems with its parachutes, software, and propulsion system. The helium leak is likely due to a faulty rubber seal rather than a design flaw, which is somewhat reassuring. However, fixing this issue would require several more months of work. As a result, managers have decided to proceed despite the flaw, as it should not compromise the safety of the mission or the two astronauts on board.
