NASA Confirms Boeing's Delayed Starliner Launch Despite Helium Leak

Boeing (NYSE: BA) and NASA are reportedly advancing with launching the company’s Starliner capsule, set to carry U.S. astronauts for the first time, despite a stable leak in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. 

This mission, known as the Starliner Crew Flight Test, is a critical final development test. 

It aims to deliver a pair of NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station before commencing routine missions. 

Also Read: Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Test Flight Postponed Due To Technical Issue, Continuing Challenges In Space Program

CNBC reported that the first crewed launch of Starliner is targeted for June 1, with backup opportunities on June 2, June 5, and June 6. 

The debut of Starliner’s crew has faced years of delays, while SpaceX’s Dragon capsule has been regularly flying astronauts for NASA since 2020. 

Boeing has incurred $1.5 billion in costs due to setbacks with Starliner, on top of nearly $5 billion in NASA development funds.

A launch attempt on May 6 was aborted two hours before liftoff due to an issue with the Atlas V rocket, built and operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp LMT. 

A ULA official noted that the rocket’s problematic valve was replaced within a week. Subsequently, a “small” helium leak in Starliner was identified, prompting new assessments of the capsule’s safety. 

NASA Associate Administrator Ken Bowersox explained that the helium leak issue took time to analyze due to its complexity, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to resolve it.

Following analysis, NASA and Boeing determined the leak originated from a seal in one of the spacecraft’s helium propulsion system flanges. 

Testing after the May 6 postponement indicated that the leak rate remained stable. 

Citing NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich, CNBC noted that the plan is to monitor the leak before launch and reassess it after reaching the International Space Station. 

Stich expressed confidence in the other seals’ integrity, noting that NASA has previously flown vehicles with small helium leaks, including missions by the Space Shuttle and SpaceX’s Dragon.

A final review of the leak is scheduled for May 29, with plans to roll the rocket and capsule to the launch pad on May 30 for the June 1 attempt.

Price Action: BA shares are up 1.28% at $174.42 at the last check on Friday.

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