Boeing attempts another Starliner crew launch

Troubled aerospace giant Boeing will try once more to fly its first crew to the International Space Station aboard a Starliner spaceship on Saturday, after the last attempt was scrubbed hours before liftoff. Following checks by engineering teams, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are “go” 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. Weather is so far highly favorable.

The US space agency is looking to certify Boeing as a second commercial operator to ferry crew to the orbital outpost — something Elon Musk’s SpaceX has already been doing since 2020. Both companies received multi-billion-dollar contracts in 2014 to develop their gumdrop-shaped and autonomously piloted crew capsules, following the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 that left the US temporarily reliant on Russian rockets for rides.

Wilmore and Williams were strapped in and ready to blast off on May 6 when a faulty rocket valve forced ground teams to call off that launch. Since then, a small helium leak located in one of the spacecraft’s thrusters came to light — but rather than replace the seal, which would require taking Starliner apart in its factory, NASA and Boeing officials declared it is safe enough to fly as is. Final checks on the leak will take place in the hours before launch.

It is also important for more immediate reasons: the Urine Processor Assembly on the ISS, which recycles water from the astronauts’ urine, suffered a failure this week and its pump needs to be replaced, Dana Weigel, NASA’s ISS program manager, told reporters. This mission will thus be tasked with carrying spare equipment, which weighs around 150 pounds (70 kilograms). To make way for it, two astronauts’ suitcases containing clothes and toiletries had to be pulled off, meaning they’ll need to rely on backup supplies kept on the station.

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft is designed to transport crew and cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS). It is a reusable capsule capable of accommodating up to seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo for ISS expeditions. With a diameter of 4.5 meters (15 feet), the Starliner provides a crew-friendly interior volume of 11 cubic meters (388 cubic feet).

Starliner features advanced systems for environmental control, life support, and crew accommodations. It’s equipped with an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) that regulates the cabin’s atmosphere, providing fresh air, and removing carbon dioxide and other contaminants. The ECLSS also manages the thermal environment, ensuring a comfortable temperature for the crew.

For crew safety, the Starliner incorporates a launch abort system that can swiftly propel the capsule away from the rocket in case of an emergency during ascent. The spacecraft is also designed with a robust heat shield and parachute landing system for a safe return to Earth.

Prior to the upcoming crewed flight, Boeing conducted extensive testing of the Starliner spacecraft. This included a high number of ground tests, simulations, and two uncrewed orbital flight tests – the first of which encountered software issues and failed to reach the ISS, while the second was successful in autonomously docking with the station and returning to Earth.

The upcoming mission will serve as the final verification of the Starliner’s capabilities, paving the way for NASA’s certification of the spacecraft for regular crewed flights to the ISS. If successful, it will mark a significant milestone for Boeing and provide a critical redundancy in the United States’ ability to transport astronauts to and from the orbiting laboratory.