Cape Canaveral, Florida – Boeing’s Starliner successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, accomplishing a crucial milestone in its first astronaut-crewed test flight. NASA and Boeing confirmed the docking at 1:34 p.m. ET, with NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams preparing to enter the ISS for a week-long stay.
The docking came after the spacecraft faced challenges with helium leaks and a thruster issue that initially posed a threat to the successful connection with the ISS. Three helium leaks emerged during the journey to the ISS, as reported by NASA’s Johnson Space Center. While one of the leaks had been identified before the flight and managed accordingly, the other two were discovered once the spacecraft was in orbit.
Helium plays a crucial role in pressurizing the spacecraft’s thrusters for firing, a key component for maneuvering in space. Despite the leaks, NASA confirmed that two of the helium valves had been closed, ensuring the stability of the spacecraft at the time of docking.
Initially scheduled to dock at 12:15 p.m. ET, the mission encountered a delay due to an issue identified with the reaction control system (RCS) jets. The spacecraft had to be held outside the “keep out sphere,” a safety boundary around the ISS, until a subsequent docking window opened at 1:33 p.m. ET.
The astronauts aboard the ISS are tasked with evaluating Starliner and its systems during their one-week stay. Upon re-entry, the spacecraft will deploy parachutes and an airbag system to land in the western U.S. If the mission is successful, NASA could approve the spacecraft for routine missions to and from the ISS, potentially diversifying its options for crew and cargo transportation in space.