Leak Mill Continues
After numerous delays, Boeing successfully launched its beleaguered Starliner capsule this week, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. However, despite being en route to the International Space Station (ISS), additional helium leaks were discovered during the journey, indicating Boeing still faces significant challenges.
Boeing clarified that helium, used in spacecraft thruster systems, is neither combustible nor toxic, and assured that the leak poses no safety risk to the crew, vehicle, or mission. A NASA livestream reported that two out of three helium leaks have been fixed, and the spacecraft is still on track to dock with the ISS around noon Eastern time.
This development is particularly concerning given Boeing’s troubled history with its astronaut shuttle.
Hole Plug Needed
Before launch, Boeing detected a helium leak but decided against fixing it. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, assured the public that the leak could be managed even if it increased significantly. However, additional leaks were discovered mid-flight, necessitating immediate action by astronauts Wilmore and Williams.
Mission control informed the crew of the new leaks just before bedtime, prompting Wilmore to seek clarification during the broadcast. Despite these issues, Boeing remains confident that the leaks will not impact the current mission’s success.
“During all of Starliner’s rendezvous and proximity operations, we’ll keep those propellant manifolds open until docking,” stated Boeing aerospace engineer Jim May.