Helium Leak Leads NASA to Delay Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Flight Again

Insider Brief:

• NASA has announced another delay in Boeing’s highly anticipated Starliner crewed flight due to a helium leak in the spacecraft’s propulsion system.
• More work is needed before a new launch date can be scheduled – the original was set for May 25.
• This mission is crucial as it represents Starliner’s final test before NASA certifies it for regular crewed missions to the ISS.

NASA has announced another delay in Boeing’s highly anticipated Starliner crewed flight, initially set for May 25 as reported by Reuters. The postponement comes as engineers work to resolve a helium leak in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. This issue was detected during pre-launch checks alongside a concern with the Atlas booster, built by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

The NASA and Boeing teams have evaluated the spacecraft’s systems and performance for two days. Despite these efforts, more work is needed before setting a new launch date. NASA stated that discussions are ongoing to determine the next possible launch opportunity.

This delay affects the mission involving NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are scheduled to be Starliner’s first crew to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission is crucial as it represents Starliner’s final test before NASA certifies it for regular crewed missions to the ISS.

The Starliner program has faced several setbacks, including an unsuccessful uncrewed flight in 2019. In contrast, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, developed under the same NASA program, has been the primary vehicle for transporting astronauts to the ISS since 2021 with over 20 successful trips to the orbiting laboratory.

As engineers continue their assessments, NASA remains focused on ensuring the safety and reliability of Starliner before proceeding with the crewed flight.