Boeing is confident its first astronaut launch at the beginning of June will go ahead after spending the past few weeks struggling with more problems on the troubled space capsule.
AP reports officials for the company and NASA said Friday intensive reviews indicate the Starliner capsule can safely fly two test pilots to the International Space Station, despite a propulsion system leak.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket is seen at Space Launch Complex 41 after the launch attempt was scrubbed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, late Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
The small helium leak was discovered following the first launch attempt on May 6 that was stopped by an unrelated rocket problem now fixed.
Engineers suspect a defective rubber seal the size of a shirt button, and say that even if the leak worsens, it could be managed in flight. All of the capsule’s other seals checked out, said NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich, prompting managers to target June 1 for the launch, the AP report sets out.
This will be the third test flight for Starliner as the Boeing company faces challenges in other areas of its business.
Demos in 2019 and 2022 had no one aboard. Boeing had to repeat the empty flight because of software and other flaws the first time.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule is already years late in transporting astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX has been launching crews since 2020. NASA wants both companies for taxi service so they can back each other up.