NASA and Boeing have made significant progress in certifying the CST-100 Starliner system following last year’s crewed flight tests. Joint teams are addressing anomalies that occurred during the mission and preparing for propulsion system tests in the coming months. Meanwhile, the space agency is already planning the capsule’s next crewed flight.
In June last year, Boeing’s Starliner capsule completed its first crewed flight, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was initially planned to last a week, but a helium leak in the propulsion system and the failure of five out of 28 reaction control thrusters led to schedule changes. NASA extended Starliner’s stay on the ISS multiple times to investigate the issues before ultimately deciding to return the spacecraft to Earth without a crew. The astronauts remained aboard the station until March 18.
NASA and Boeing have made significant progress in analyzing data from Starliner’s first crewed flight. While the mission team managed to restore functionality to four of the five failed thrusters while the spacecraft was still in orbit, engineers are still working to fully resolve the issue – a process that is expected to continue for several more months.
This effort will include test firings of Starliner’s thrusters at NASA’s test site in New Mexico. According to the agency, these tests aim to validate detailed thermal models and provide insights for potential upgrades to the spacecraft’s thrusters, thermal protection systems, and operational strategies for future missions.
Teams will also continue testing new sealing solutions for the helium system to minimize the risk of future leaks. “Once we complete these planned test campaigns, we’ll have a better understanding of when we can proceed with Starliner’s next flight,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
He added that certification efforts will continue through the end of the year, after which NASA will determine how best to fit Starliner into the International Space Station’s schedule, alongside crew and cargo missions. “Most likely, the next Starliner flight will take place at the end of this year or early next year,” Stich stated.
Certification will grant Starliner approval for long-term NASA missions, transporting astronauts to and from the ISS under contract. However, the agency has yet to decide whether the next flight will be crewed. “Mission planners expect Starliner’s next flight to be a post-certification crewed mission, but NASA also has the flexibility to conduct uncrewed cargo flights based on the agency’s needs,” officials noted.
Source: space
