Hey space enthusiasts! 🌌 NASA and Boeing have announced that the first crewed mission of the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) is now targeting no earlier than May 21. 📅
The Starliner was originally set to launch on May 6 aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. However, technical hiccups caused a delay. 🤖
On May 11, the ULA team sprang into action and successfully replaced a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank of the Atlas V rocket's Centaur upper stage. After some re-pressurization, system purges, and tests, the new valve performed like a champ! 🏆
But that's not all—Starliner teams are also working to fix a tiny helium leak in the spacecraft's service module, found at a flange on a single reaction control system thruster. Don't worry though! Helium is safe—it's non-combustible and non-toxic. 🎈
NASA and Boeing are crafting solutions to tackle this issue and keep things moving forward. 💪
This mission will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS. They'll be the first to ride aboard Boeing's Starliner as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. How cool is that? 👩🚀👨🚀
The dynamic duo will spend about a week floating around in the orbiting laboratory before returning to Earth with a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the southwestern United States. Talk about an epic journey! 🪂🌍
Once this mission wraps up successfully, NASA will start the final steps to certify Starliner and its systems for regular crewed trips to the space station. The future of space travel is looking bright! ✨
Reference(s):
NASA delays Boeing Starliner launch to no earlier than May 21
cgtn.com
