After years of waiting and delays, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft finally began its mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
On Thursday, the capsule took off from Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, carrying two prominent NASA astronauts—Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams—but shortly after its successful launch, a mission supervisor noticed an excess helium leak in the spacecraft
The leak itself poses no immediate risk of discharge, as helium is an inert gas. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and spacecraft have launched safely after similar leaks in the past. But there are concerns about how the leaks could affect the spacecraft’s reaction control system (RCS), which relies on 28 small engines for precise operation in orbit2
NASA administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of this moment. The Starliner test flight brings NASA one step closer to launching two independent commercial spacecraft to carry astronauts into low Earth orbit—a milestone in the agency’s long-term goals of winning a dollar contract 4.2 billion in 2014 to produce the Starliner Boeing has faced technical challenges throughout the project.
From fuel leaks to rusty valves, the journey is full of obstacles. Last year, engineers discovered that they had mistakenly installed a wire that caught fire around a wire inside the spacecraft, causing further delays.
Despite these obstacles, a successful launch represents an important step towards a rotating crew working to the ISS. Starliner is poised to join SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as a reliable transport option for astronauts, ensuring the continued presence of humans in space.
As Wilmore and Williams put the spacecraft through its paces, each component will be tested “from Izzard to Gizzard” to ensure it’s ready for extended orbital missions
The ISS is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, 2024, where Wilmore and Williams will spend at least a week before returning to Earth. Astronauts are eagerly awaiting further information on helium leak conditions and overall spacecraft performance during this critical mission.
