NASA’s Inspector General has issued his verdict on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Engineers must fix all the technical issues that caused so many problems during its first—and so far only—manned flight. The chances of another flight before early 2027 are slim.
Problems with the Starliner
The Starliner spacecraft is not ready for another flight to the International Space Station. This is the verdict reached by NASA’s chief inspector. Engineers generally agree with this conclusion. The most troubled space project risks being shelved once again. This was reported by arstechnica.com.
The history of the CST-100 Starliner actually began back in 2014. At that time, NASA was looking for ways to transport its astronauts to the ISS after the space shuttle program ended. It was decided that SpaceX would build the Dragon and Boeing would build the Starliner; the two would compete, but together they would meet the space agency’s need for spacecraft.
Years passed, and although there were delays, SpaceX carried out its plan and had the spacecraft certified for crewed flights as early as 2020. Boeing, on the other hand, faced constant problems. Initially, the Starliner’s launch was scheduled for 2017. However, its construction was delayed, and the first uncrewed flight did not take place until 2019—and it was unsuccessful.
It wasn’t until 2022 that the Starliner successfully reached the ISS in unmanned mode. This success prompted the company—which was already behind schedule at the time—to plan a crewed mission for 2024. We all know how that turned out: two astronauts spent nine unplanned months on the ISS.
Is it possible to fix the Starliner?
The investigation into the causes of the Starliner’s failed flight has officially concluded. Most of the numerous technical issues identified during this mission have already been addressed. However, key issues remain unresolved: a helium leak and overheating of the main engines. To resolve these issues, Boeing engineers have been given a six-point checklist that they must complete by December 31 of this year.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the Starliner won’t fly before 2027. The experts may try to solve the problem ahead of schedule, although that won’t be easy. They certainly have plenty of motivation: if they don’t manage to do it ahead of schedule, that will already be a 10-year delay compared to the original plan.
Meanwhile, the ISS itself will have only three years left in operation by 2027, although Congress is currently trying to extend its service life until 2032. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has already called the previous flight an accident.
The next cargo mission is simply called Starliner-1. One of the last five Atlas V rockets is even being held in reserve for it. However, there is no information on when it will take place. At the same time, NASA is very keen for the spacecraft to finally launch, because paying Elon Musk for additional missions is proving to be too expensive.
According to arstechnica.com
