Hard to believe , but it ’s been nearly two and a one-half years since Boeing ’s first botched test of its Starliner CST-100 ballistic capsule . Yep , it ’s been a instant , so here ’s a recap of the past 28 troubled months , and how Boeing might finally make unspoiled on providing a viable commercial-grade crew vehicle for NASA .
The two previous psychometric test , one in 2019 ( Orbital Flight Test-1 ) and the other last twelvemonth ( Orbital Flight Test-2 ) , did not go well , to say the least . In the first test , the capsule made it to orbit but then glitched and never reached the space post . In the second , stuck valve hold open Starliner on the ground . Boeing is develop this capsule under a$4.3 billioncontract as part of NASA’sCommercial Crew Program , but it has fallen badly behind agenda . The pressure ’s now seriously on .
In formulation for this second endeavor at OFT-2 , the Starliner capsule is presently sitting atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket , which is schedule to set in motion from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:54 p.m. EDT on Thursday , May 19 . Should all go as planned , the uncrewed CST-100 will tail at the International Space Station on Friday , May 20 at 7:10 p.m. EDT . Starliner OFT-2 is tamp with around 500 pounds of shipment ( mostly food ) , and the programme is to return 600 pound of consignment back to Earth .
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner being lifted at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.Photo: NASA/Frank Michaux
late precedent being what it is , this itinerary is hardly a sure thing . The problems that have plagued this program have launch the gamut , from hardware glitches and computer software anomalies through to cheapjack unconscious process and organisational inadequacy . Boeing’sshortcomingsas a NASA better half have been on full display over the preceding several years and amplified by the attainment at SpaceX , NASA ’s other commercial gang partner . Elon Musk ’s Crew Dragon has been shuttling cosmonaut to the ISS and returning them home for two years now .
The launch of Boeing ’s OFT-1 mission on December 20 , 2019 was an other sign that things were n’t quite right . The capsule managed to turn over quad , but a software mechanisation glitch cause the spacecraft to burn supernumerary fuel , foreclose it from reach its object — the ISS . A subsequent investigation implicate a faulty Mission Elapsed Timer , which caused timings on Starliner and the projectile to go out of sync . Starliner misestimate its location in space as a result , trigger the inauspicious fuel burn mark . investigator also uncovered a coding mistake that could ’ve led to an dangerous service module separation sequence . As if that were n’t enough , outer space - to - ground communications were unexpectedly recede during the OFT-1 tryout .
The botched test led an autonomous NASA - Boeing review team toissue80 recommendations to Boeing , a lengthy to - do leaning that admit improved testing and modeling , new development requirements , software update , organizational change , and operation pinch . The ensue drive to address these recommendation resulted in a 1.5 - year delay to the Starliner program .
Conceptual view of Starliner CST-100 in space.Image: Boeing
By August 3 , 2021 , Boeing was ready to perform the 2nd test of Starliner , the OFT-2 commission , but the Atlas V Eruca sativa never leave the launch pad of paper owing to “ unexpected valve berth indication ” in the capsule ’s propulsion arrangement . During the countdown , 13 of 24 oxidizer valve , which “ connectto thruster that enable abort and in - orbit maneuvering , ” got stuck in the closed place , squeeze the squad to abort the launch andreturnthe condensation to the Vertical Integration Facility for closer review .
Engineers by and by determined that moisture somehow got onto the dry side of the oxidation valves , causing nitric acid to form , and that friction from the ensuing corrosion cause the valves to get stick by . Engineers blamed thehumid Florida airfor this unwanted wet .
At a media teleconference on May 3 , Steve Stich , handler for NASA ’s Commercial Crew Program , tell the issue “ has been closed out ” and that OFT-2 is once again quick to proceed . “ It ’s been a toilsome eight month , I would say , but very fulfilling in that we ’ve answer the trouble with the oxidizer isolation valve , ” he said .
Boeing engineers attending to Starliner after the failed attempt to launch in August 2021.Photo: Boeing
Michelle Parker , vice president and deputy worldwide managing director for Space and Launch at Boeing , told reporters that the “ space vehicle bet great ” and it ’s “ performing swell . ” Boeing engine driver were able to narrow down the root cause and implement step to forbid a repeat , she explain . Parker say the squad choose not to redesign the valves but instead sum sealant and other component to keep moisture aside . By “ seal the ambient wet course , ” she said , the team is hop to avoid a recurrence . “ If you eliminate wet from the valve , you wipe out the [ chemical substance ] reaction , ” she said . The ground team is now wheel the valve every couple of days to ensure functionality , Parker added .
When expect if another failed psychometric test would trigger the remnant of the NASA - Boeing commercial gang contract , Joel Montalbano , manager of NASA ’s ISS computer program , say the space government agency will keep on to work out with Boeing on the labor and that no intent exist to stop now . “ I suspect that we ’ll ascertain from the test flight , ” and then “ go pilot the crewed flight of steps and then take flight the post - certification missions , ” he say newsman .
Indeed , a successful OFT-2 mission would place the stage for Crew Flight Test , or CFT . “ We understand that we ’re exit to learn a lot from OFT-2 , and that will prescribe the docket prompt forward , but we have a butt [ to set in motion a crewed mission ] at the ending of this twelvemonth , ” Mark Nappi , Boeing programme manager for the CST-100 Starliner mission , said at the May 3 press league .
The return with the valve , it would appear , is not over . Boeing is presently muse the possibility of redesigning the propulsion valves . “ A valve redesign is emphatically on the table , ” Nappitoldreporters this preceding Wednesday . “ Once we get all the selective information that we require , we ’ll make that decision . ” And asreportedin Reuters , Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne are currently squabbling over who ’s to blame for the wrong valves . Aerojet Rocketdyne and its lawyers are take that a cleaning chemical substance used by Boeing during ground mental testing caused the problem , a claim that Boeing deny , according to Reuters . Boeing ’s acknowledgement of a likely valve redesign and its inculpation - game with Aerojet Rocketdyne are bad looks just before the OFT-2 launch .
A crewed Starliner test launching later this twelvemonth would be grand , but we ’d best not get in the lead of ourselves . All eyes will be on Space Launch Complex-41 on May 19 , in what ’s becoming one of the most anticipated and pressure - packed launch of the year .
Atlas VBoeingBoeing StarlinerOuter spaceSpacecraftSpaceflightSPACEX
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