Join +750K new investors every month who copy stock picks from billionaire's portfoliosSign Up Free

Boeing targets June 1 for Starliner's debut crew launch amid helium leak probe

Published 05/22/2024, 08:23 PM
Updated 05/22/2024, 08:51 PM
© Reuters. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying two astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT), is shown after the launch was delayed for technical issues prior to a mission to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florid
BA
-

By Joey Roulette

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - NASA and Boeing (NYSE:BA) are targeting June 1 for the company's first crewed launch of its Starliner spacecraft as engineers investigate the cause of a helium leak and examine how it could affect crucial parts of the mission, the agency said Wednesday.

The helium leak on Starliner's propulsion system has held up the spacecraft's first mission to space carrying humans, initially planned for May 7 but successively delayed as NASA and Boeing attempt to fix the issue and run new tests on the spacecraft.

The U.S. space agency said engineers have broadened their review into the leak, which was traced to a valve component on a single thruster, to include an assessment of Starliner's propulsion system and how it might be impacted by the spacecraft's helium system.

Starliner's helium system is used to add pressure to the fuel that powers its onboard thrusters, which are used to maneuver the spacecraft in orbit.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, developed to ferry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has been delayed years and is more than $1.5 billion over budget. Persistent Starliner development challenges have illustrated Boeing's struggle to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX on tighter budgets.

© Reuters. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying two astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT), is shown after the launch was delayed for technical issues prior to a mission to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. May 6, 2024. REUTERS/Steve Nesius/File Photo

Starliner's debut crewed flight includes NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. The mission is a final test before NASA can certify Starliner for routine missions to and from the ISS.

The space agency said Boeing has additional launch opportunities on June 2, 5 and 6 should it miss the June 1 window.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.