Boeing's Starliner: Valve Troubles Delay Launch Plans
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Overview of the Starliner Dilemma
Boeing has faced numerous challenges in its quest to launch the Starliner spacecraft over the past few years. After a series of setbacks, the company recently decided to return the Starliner to the factory for further examination, as engineers continue to grapple with persistent valve malfunctions. With no clear launch timeline emerging, the next opportunity for Boeing to attempt to send Starliner into space may not occur until 2022, according to reports from Ars Technica.
The CST-100 Starliner, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, is designed to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). In contrast, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has already been successfully ferrying crew members to the ISS for over a year. The Starliner encountered significant issues during its Orbital Flight Test (OFT) in late 2019, where several system failures prevented it from docking with the ISS. Since then, Boeing has been striving to execute a second attempt, termed OFT-2.
In August, Starliner was positioned on the launchpad with an Atlas V rocket. However, the OFT-2 mission faced yet another postponement due to 13 oxidizer valves that had become stuck within the propulsion system. These valves play a crucial role in the operation of the main engines and reaction control systems, essential for both launch and emergency scenarios. As the valves could not be repaired on-site, Boeing opted to transfer the spacecraft to the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) at Kennedy Space Center for further inspection.
Engineering Insights into the Valve Issues
The CST-100 Starliner has the capacity to carry up to seven astronauts to and from the ISS, at least in theory. According to Kathy Lueders, NASA’s head of human spaceflight operations, engineers have been analyzing the “dry” side of the valves to gather insights. The intention is to pinpoint the root cause of the valve issues and potentially devise a solution from this limited examination. However, if the problem persists, they may have to inspect the “wet” side of the valves, which would necessitate disassembling the propulsion system—an intricate and time-consuming process.
Even if Boeing were to resolve the valve issues promptly, immediate access to the launchpad wouldn’t be possible. The ISS has a finite number of docking ports shared among various spacecraft, including the Dragon cargo, Crew Dragon, and Soyuz. There will be openings in October and during the latter part of November, but it is increasingly likely that OFT-2 will not take place until 2022. If the uncrewed flight is successful, Boeing would then proceed to prepare for its first crewed demonstration flight later that same year.
This first video discusses Boeing's decision to cancel the initial Starliner astronaut launch due to ongoing valve issues, outlining the challenges ahead.
The second video raises alarms regarding the potential for the Boeing Starliner to crash into the ISS, highlighting concerns over propulsion control.