Why it matters: NASA needs two vehicles to orbit.
NASA currently relies on SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk, to travel to and from the space station. SpaceX carried its first team of astronauts into orbit aboard the Crew Dragon capsule in May 2020, and has since lifted eight more crew members to the space station.
But NASA also hired Boeing to build the capsule so that one could act as a backup if something went wrong with the other.
“NASA desperately needs a second provider for crew transportation,” Steve Stitch, the agency’s commercial crew program manager, said at a press conference Thursday.
Background: What Happened After the Space Shuttle Program?
NASA once used the Space Shuttle to bring astronauts into orbit and out of orbit. When those spacecraft were decommissioned in his 2011, the agency was forced to rely on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, and continued to do so for nearly a decade.
To restore autonomy, the agency launched a program called “Commercial Crew,” which relied on private companies to build spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts on NASA missions. In addition, NASA will become a corporate customer by paying for a vehicle ride, rather than outright owning the vehicle like the Space Shuttle.
SpaceX was one of those providers and Boeing was to be another.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule has already flown into orbit twice without astronauts on board. The maiden flight in December 2019 was scheduled to take place ahead of a flight with astronauts on board. However, a series of software errors in space jeopardized the flight, and NASA investigated and classified the flight as a “high-visibility close call.”
A second unmanned flight in May 2022 was even more successful. But it was originally supposed to happen in August 2021. Prior to that flight, engineers discovered that the Starliner’s propulsion system valves had stuck, and the Starliner had to be recalled from the launch pad and sent back to the factory for repair.
Technical problems have become a burden for Boeing. Reported loss of $883 million It will be installed in vehicles until October 2022.
But the company said it had no intention of abandoning its plans to build the Starliner.
“There is increasing pain in developing the vehicle and making it fly. We are getting pretty close,” said Mark Nappi, Boeing vice president and Starliner program manager. “It’s just part of the business that things like this happen.”
What’s next: Boeing and NASA will evaluate the repairs.
Stich said Starliner could visit the space station this fall, but that would depend on how quickly the parachute and wiring issues can be resolved.
After re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the Starliner capsule will gently return to Earth under three parachutes. Engineers found that when only two of the three parachutes deployed properly, some of the lines connecting the spacecraft and the parachutes could not withstand the loads from the capsule.Boeing said in the statement He said he expected to conduct a parachute test before another launch was scheduled.
The wiring problem involves hundreds of feet of tape wrapped around the Starliner’s internal wiring. Depending on your scenario, the tape adhesive may be flammable. Nappi said engineers are considering wrapping different types of tape around areas with the highest fire risk.
“I would say it’s a shame because it means a delay,” Mr. Nappi said. “But the team is proud that we are making the right choice.”
