Boeing’s Starliner: Ready for First Crewed Mission Despite Technical Hurdles

Boeing’s Starliner: Ready for First Crewed Mission Despite Technical Hurdles

NASA / Getty / Canva

Boeing is preparing for its first crewed space mission in June despite unresolved technical issues with its Starliner spacecraft. The vessel, which has a history of setbacks since its development in 2010, aims to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), a goal SpaceX's Crew Dragon has already achieved. 

  

Scheduled to launch 

Scheduled to launch on June 1, Starliner faces challenges, including a helium leak and a faulty valve, which caused a previous mission delay. Although the valve has been replaced, a decision was made not to fix a small leaking seal due to complexity and time constraints. NASA and Boeing believe the leak can be managed, citing past experiences with similar issues on space shuttles and SpaceX's Dragon. 

  

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NASA's Goal 

Boeing's success with Starliner is critical for NASA's goal of certifying multiple commercial vehicles for ISS missions, a necessity since the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011. Previous setbacks, including a failed rendezvous with the ISS in 2019 and delays caused by technical issues, have delayed the Starliner program's progress further. 

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Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

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