Starliner space capsule unmanned test flight delayed for ISS

The flight was postponed again. Boeing announced on Tuesday, August 3, that it was delaying the unmanned test mission of its Starliner space capsule to the International Space Station (ISS), postponing a critical test for the company due to a malfunction in the propulsion system, and its first attempt failed in 2019.

On the Atlas V rocket, developed by the United Launch Alliance, the spacecraft is scheduled to take off from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 1:20 pm (7:20 pm in Paris). But about 2 hours before the launch, Boeing announced Twitter The flight was canceled.

According to NASA, the mission was not canceled due to capricious weather, but “Unexpected symptoms in the position of the valves of the Starliner propulsion system”, The next possible window for startups is Wednesday at 12:57 pm (16:57 GMT).

“We are disappointed with today’s decision and need to change the timing of the launch of Starline.”Boeing chairman John Wolmer said. “Boeing and NASA will take the time needed to ensure the safety and integrity of our spacecraft.”

The test mission was scheduled to take place on Friday, but was postponed to Tuesday after a Russian science unit unexpectedly activated its impulses after merging with the ISS, changing its orientation.

Russian rockets are no longer needed

After completing its own space shuttle program in 2011, NASA acquired Boeing and SpaceX services, thus eliminating the need for Russian rockets to reach ISS. SpaceX has already carried ten astronauts to the space station. Including the Frenchman Thomas Basket, On board his crew dragon.

For its part, Boeing lags behind. In December 2019, during the first test flight, a software problem caused the capsule to have trouble igniting its propellers.

As a result, Starliner did not have enough fuel to reach the ISS Returned to earth in advance. Later, an investigation revealed that the capsule experienced a serious air disorder as soon as it entered the atmosphere. NASA called this mission “High Visibility Close Call”, A rare name assigned to aircraft close to disaster.

Steve Stitch, head of NASA’s commercial flight program, told reporters last week that he was optimistic this time around. “We want it to go well. We expect it to go well. We have prepared as much as we can.”, he said. “The Starliner is a great vehicle, but we know how difficult it is, and it’s a test flight, so I hope we learn something from it.”

By the time it completes its mission in the western American desert, the capsule is expected to carry more than 180 kilograms of equipment to the ISS and bring back more than 250 of them.