A satellite image shows an overview of the International Space Station with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, June 7, 2024.
Maxar Technologies | Via Reuters
BoeingNASA announced Friday that the Starliner “Calypso” capsule will remain on the International Space Station for twice as long as originally planned.
This developmental nature of the mission, known as the Boeing Crew Flight Test, is on display as the company and NASA conduct a variety of tests on the Starliner spacecraft docked with the ISS. The mission is Starliner’s first crewed flight, and Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are scheduled to send the spacecraft back to Earth next week.
Before its June 5 launch, Boeing and NASA planned for Starliner to be in space for nine days.
However, the Calypso mission is currently expected to return to Earth on June 22, leaving the ISS on June 21 at 11:42 p.m. ET and landing approximately six and a half hours later at 6:26 a.m. ET. This means the Starliner crew flight test will now last at least 17 days, about twice as long as the original plan, and will be dedicated to further testing of the spacecraft.
NASA said these tests include operating the capsule’s hatch, firing seven thrusters and checking cabin air temperatures, all while program managers and astronauts “finalize departure planning and operations.”
The agency also noted that Starliner would “repeat certain secure harbor tests,” but did not explain why this was necessary. The secure haven test involves astronauts on the ISS using the spacecraft as a refuge in an emergency. NASA stated that “the spacecraft remains cleared for emergency crew reentry scenarios under flight regulations,” referring to the possible scenario of an unexpected evacuation of astronauts from the ISS.
NASA, after posting an update on Fridaydeferred CNBC’s request for further clarification until a news conference to be held on Tuesday before the scheduled departure.
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The crewed flight test is the final significant step before NASA certifies Boeing to allow a crew to fly operational six-month missions. However, as with the previous two uncrewed spaceflights, the Starliner encounters several problems during the mission.
Before launch, a single leak was detected in Calypso’s helium propulsion system. The leak was deemed stable and did not pose a threat to the capsule’s safety, so the launch moved forward and successfully delivered the Starliner to the ISS.
However, since docking with the ISS, there have been four additional helium leaks from the spacecraft. NASA wrote earlier this week that Calypso “has sufficient margin to cover the costs of the return trip” based on the current rate of five leaks at 10 times the required helium capacity in the tanks.
As Boeing guided the Starliner toward docking, another problem – which NASA says is independent of helium leaks – emerged with the spacecraft’s propulsion system. Starliner has 28 thrusters, known as RCS thrusters, that facilitate the spacecraft make petite movements in orbit.
Five of the 28 thrusters were inoperable, but after the problems were resolved, Boeing recovered four of the damaged Starliner jets and NASA allowed the spacecraft to dock.
NASA said Friday it will conduct hot-fire tests before disconnecting seven of the eight thrusters near the spacecraft’s tail. Scorching fires are very tiny bursts of jet engines, and Boeing is trying to evaluate their performance. NASA did not specify whether any of the seven thrusters that will be tested are the same five that stopped working before docking.
Boeing Vice President Mark Nappi said in a statement that despite doubling the mission length, “We have plenty of margin and time on station.”
Starliner was once seen as a competitor to SpaceX’s Dragon, which has made 12 manned trips to the ISS in the past four years. But various setbacks and delays have steadily relegated the Starliner to NASA’s back-up position, and the agency plans to have SpaceX and Boeing astronauts alternate flying.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule is seen approaching the International Space Station with two NASA astronauts on board on June 6, 2024.
NASA Television
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the flight test duration.