What’s Up With The Boeing Starliner?

New details are being made public regarding a technical issue that prevented Boeing and NASA from performing a test launch for the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft last week.

The problem seems to be more grave than previously thought, leading to doubt that the spacecraft will be ready for launch later this month.

Boeing’s Starliner is often compared to a car that sits in the garage for repairs, as it is patiently waiting in the hangar while teams of engineers are working tirelessly to fix an issue related to the propulsion system of the spacecraft.

A NASA statement claims that specialists are working on restoring the functionality to 13 valves of the spacecraft’s propulsion mechanisms.

According to NASA, the valves are tasked with connecting to thrusters that enable abort and in-orbit manoeuvring.

However, the thrusters couldn’t open during the August 3 countdown, resulting in the mess that we are still experiencing.

The mission is currently in an indefinite delay.

Keith Cowing, an ex-employee of NASA and editor of the site NASA Watch published his opinion on the subject recently:

“How—why—did this spacecraft—one that is supposed to eventually fly humans—ever make it to the launch pad without fully operational propulsion valves in the first place? Just wondering.”

We are no scientists, but his question feels adequate.

The Starliner story is becoming sadder and sadder by the minute.

The first Starliner unmanned test in 2019 culminated with disappointment because the spacecraft couldn’t reach the ISS.

The test led to a slew of corrections plus a delay of nearly two days in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide a platform for transporting astronauts and resources to the ISS.

Aside from Russian space ships, the only other available option for the company is to launch astronauts aboard SpaceX’ Crew Dragon.

The initial date for the second unscrewed Starliner test was set for July 30, but a delay was provoked by a misfiring Russian Nauka module that made the ISS perform a backflip.