Cape Canaveral, Florida – The long-awaited crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is facing yet another delay as engineers work to address a helium leak in the capsule’s propulsion system. NASA announced the latest setback late Tuesday, indicating that the postponement could last even longer as they evaluate the situation.
At the heart of the issue is a small helium leak detected in the spacecraft’s service module. NASA has not disclosed the specific options being considered to address the problem, but potential solutions range from proceeding with the flight as is (with a thorough understanding of the leak) to removing the capsule from the rocket for repairs, potentially pushing the launch to late summer.
The delays plaguing the Starliner program are nothing new, with setbacks dating back to software issues during an unpiloted test flight in 2019. Despite these challenges, Boeing aims to join SpaceX in flying astronauts to the International Space Station through NASA’s commercial crew program.
Engineers initially discovered the helium leak during the first launch attempt earlier this month, which was ultimately halted due to a separate issue with a pressure regulation valve on the Atlas V rocket. NASA astronauts already strapped in for the launch were sent back home to await word on the next launch opportunity.
Boeing engineers have traced the leak to a specific thruster in one of the propulsion pods on the service module. While the leak itself poses minimal safety risk on the ground, it must be addressed to ensure the spacecraft’s propulsion system functions properly in space.
If the issue can be resolved without significant repairs, the Starliner could still dock with the space station through part of July. However, the crowded schedule of upcoming missions poses challenges for finding an ideal launch window. From multiple visiting crew and cargo vehicles in August to high-priority missions for ULA, the path forward for the Starliner remains uncertain.
As NASA and Boeing continue to work towards a solution for the helium leak, the fate of the Starliner’s crewed test flight hangs in the balance, with potential implications for future missions to the space station.