WASHINGTON - NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the orbiting laboratory on June 6 aboard the Boeing Starliner after lifting off on June 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
During Starliner’s flight to the space station, engineers noticed some of the spacecraft’s thrusters did not perform as expected and several leaks in Starliner’s helium system also were observed. Engineering teams at NASA and Boeing have since conducted several thruster tests and in-depth data reviews to better understand the spacecraft. While engineers work to resolve technical issues before Starliner’s return to Earth, the astronaut duo have been working with the Expedition 71 crew, performing scientific research and maintenance activities, Gary Daines writes for NASA. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
23 August 2024 - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Boeing Crew Flight Test mission on 5 June, marking the first manned flight of the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station. The mission is intended to demonstrate the spacecraft's readiness for future rotational missions to the station. NASA is aiming to establish two U.S. spacecraft, alongside Russia's Soyuz, capable of transporting astronauts to ensure a continuous crew presence on the station.
During the flight, some of Starliner's thrusters malfunctioned, and several helium system leaks were detected. Although the mission was originally expected to last about a week, NASA and Boeing are extending the timeline to gather more data on the spacecraft. The decision to proceed cautiously follows lessons learned from the space shuttle Columbia disaster. "Our NASA and Boeing teams are poring over data from additional in-space and ground testing and analysis," NASA stated, "providing mission managers data to make the best, safest decision on how and when to return crew home."
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
