Boeing Starliner

History

2024

Due to the problems of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, astronauts from the United States were stuck on the ISS until 2025

In August 2024, the return of American astronauts was postponed until February 2025. NASA agency turned to a competitor - SpaceXIlon Mask after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft had technical problems.

As a result, in September 2024 it was announced that the Boeing Co. space capsule will return to Earth without a crew. Astronauts Wilmore and Williams will remain in space until 2025.

Starliner launch with helium leak

After two unsuccessful attempts, Boeing launched Starliner to the International Space Station on June 5, 2024. The first flight took place on an Atlas V rocket from the Space Force station at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

The mission, known as the Crew Flight Test, is the culmination of Boeing's efforts to develop a spacecraft capable of competing with SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.

At the same time, the Starliner capsule faced new problems due to helium leakage.

The Starliner was launched with a small but constant helium leak in a certain "manifold." The launch was delayed for several weeks for troubleshooting, but managers concluded that the spacecraft could be operated safely in normal mode.

2022: Launch to the ISS of a spacecraft on a rocket with a Russian engine

On May 19, 2022, the American crewed Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft without a crew on board went on a second test flight to the International Space Station. It was launched into orbit by an Atlas V launch vehicle with a Russian RD-180 engine.

Starliner, as part of the first test flight on December 20, 2019 without a crew, deviated from the route due to software problems, entered an abnormal orbit, overspent fuel and was unable to dock to the International Space Station (ISS). Starliner returned to Earth two days after launch. This was the first landing of the American descent system on land, and all previous American vehicles were driven in the ocean.

Boeing launched a spacecraft to the ISS on a rocket with a Russian engine

Starliner is a private spacecraft that Boeing has developed in partnership with NASA to help the agency's astronauts bring people to and from the ISS to low Earth orbit. The capsule is one of two vehicles, along with SpaceX's Crew Dragon. But before NASA astronauts can board the Starliner, the space agency wants Boeing to demonstrate that the capsule can perform all the tasks of a conventional, uncrewed spaceflight on board. Under a contract with NASA, Boeing received more than $5 billion for the development, production of the Starliner spacecraft, as well as its missions to deliver astronauts to the ISS and return them to Earth.

There are about 360 kg of payloads on board the ship. The commander's place is occupied by a humanoid test device that measures the load level. The journey to the ISS will take 25 hours. Starliner should dock to the American Harmony module and spend about four days as part of the station, according information to The Verge.

Over the past time since the first flight, Boeing and NASA have made about 100 other corrective changes to the ship's systems. If the second test is successful, then NASA can certify Starliner for the first test flight with astronauts on board.^[1]

Notes