Boeing and NASA have decided to move forward with the launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which is set to carry U.S. astronauts for the first time, despite a “stable” leak in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. During a press conference, Mark Nappi, Boeing’s vice president and manager of the company’s Commercial Crew program, assured that they have identified the causes of the leak and are confident in their ability to manage it. This leak is not considered a safety issue, according to Nappi.
Boeing is aiming for a crewed launch of its spacecraft on June 1, with backup opportunities on June 2, June 5, and June 6. The mission, known as the Starliner Crew Flight Test, is critical for the final major development test of the capsule. The goal is to transport a pair of NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station before starting routine missions. However, delays have plagued Starliner’s crew debut, with rival SpaceX’s Dragon capsule successfully transporting astronauts for NASA under the agency’s Commercial Crew program since 2020.
Boeing has experienced significant setbacks with Starliner, resulting in $1.5 billion in costs and nearly $5 billion of NASA development funds. A previous launch attempt on May 6 was called off due to an issue with the Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Following the launch postponement, a “small” helium leak was discovered in Starliner, prompting reassessments of the capsule’s safety for the mission.
After thorough analysis, NASA and Boeing have determined that the source of the leak is a seal in one of the flanges of the spacecraft’s helium propulsion system. Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, mentioned that the leak rate has remained steady despite testing post the May 6 delay. The plan is to continue monitoring the leak leading up to the launch and evaluate it again once the spacecraft reaches the International Space Station.
Stich highlighted that NASA has experience flying vehicles with small helium leaks, citing instances from Space Shuttle missions and SpaceX’s Dragon flights. Both NASA and Boeing are confident that the other seals will not leak and are preparing for a review scheduled for May 29 to assess the situation further. The rocket and capsule are set to be rolled out to the launch pad on May 30 for the planned June 1 launch attempt.