Starliner astronauts still don’t know when they’ll return to Earth, but Boeing already knows why the ship failed

• The spacecraft’s flight was supposed to last about 10 days. More than 50 have passed

• NASA has a plan B with SpaceX if the next ignition test fails.

The first manned flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was supposed to last about 10 days. More than 50 years have passed, and the two astronauts who traveled to the International Space Station aboard the ship still don’t have a return date. NASA has a Plan B planned, just in case.

Context. Before docking with the International Space Station, the Starliner spacecraft experienced a series of problems: up to five helium leaks and the failure of several engines, one of which could not be repaired.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams docked safely on their second attempt, but Boeing and NASA engineers are still conducting tests to ensure the spacecraft’s re-entry is safe.

The decisive test before returning. There is still no return date for Starliner. The service module continues to be examined for safety reasons and to document as much as possible the problems with this section of the ship, which does not recover after re-entry.

This weekend, Boeing and NASA plan to conduct a crucial test before reentry: a static fire of the 27 boosters that are still running. They will open the valves of the helium system (which has been closed since their arrival due to leaks) and fire small pulses to make sure everything is working for the undocking maneuver.

Why did Starliner cause problems? New tests recently conducted at Boeing’s ground facility in White Sands, New Mexico, have shed some light on what went wrong.

In these tests, fuel identical to that on the ship suffered “severe degradation” as nitrogen dioxide vapors deformed a valve, restricting fuel flow.

There is already a plan B. NASA is counting on SpaceX to save the day if things go badly. The next Crew Dragon spacecraft, flying from 2020, could launch to the International Space Station with two empty seats and two extra spacesuits to “rescue” Butch and Suni if ​​needed.

Boeing Starliner’s first operational flight is scheduled for 2025, this time with three astronauts on board. Engineers are considering options to avoid valve degradation, such as flying a different profile or adding additional thermal protection to the structure that protects the thrusters.

Image | POT

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