Troubled aerospace giant Boeing is making another attempt to fly its first crew to the International Space Station aboard a Starliner spaceship on Saturday, after the last launch was cancelled shortly before liftoff.
Following thorough checks by engineering teams, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been cleared for launch atop a United Launch Alliance rocket at 12:25 pm (1625 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Saturday. The weather conditions are currently looking very favorable for the launch.
“We are excited for the launch, and we are confident in the success of this mission,” said astronaut Mike Fincke, the backup crew member for the mission, during a press conference.
NASA is seeking to certify Boeing as a second commercial operator to transport crew to the ISS, a role already filled by Elon Musk’s SpaceX since 2020.
Both companies were awarded multi-billion-dollar contracts in 2014 to develop their crew capsules, following the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 which temporarily left the US relying on Russian rockets for transportation.
Despite being heavily favored over SpaceX due to its long history, Boeing’s program has faced numerous delays and safety concerns similar to those of its commercial airline division.
Wilmore and Williams were ready for liftoff on May 6, but a faulty rocket valve caused the launch to be aborted.
– Urine pump –
Since then, a small helium leak in one of the spacecraft’s thrusters was found, but after assessment by NASA and Boeing officials, it was determined safe to proceed with the mission without replacing the seal.
Final checks on the leak will be conducted just before the launch.
A successful flight would help Boeing recover from its previous setbacks and strengthen its reputation. The mission will also address an urgent issue on the ISS, where the Urine Processor Assembly suffered a failure this week and requires a new pump, as shared by Dana Weigel, NASA’s ISS program manager.
This mission will carry the spare equipment needed, weighing around 150 pounds (70 kilograms). To make room for it, some personal items from the astronauts had to be removed, requiring them to rely on backup supplies on the station.
If the mission proceeds as planned, the Starliner will dock with the ISS on Sunday for an eight-day stay, during which the crew will conduct tests to determine the suitability of the ship as a safe haven in case of an emergency on the ISS.
After undocking, the Starliner will reenter the Earth’s atmosphere and land in the western United States with the assistance of parachutes and airbags on June 10.
ia/mdl
