Last June 5 Boeing he finally managed to launch his Starliner into the space. After several delays and failed attempts, the capsule, which will accompany SpaceX’s Starship as a carrier for NASA astronauts and supplies, will head to Earth. International Space Station (ISS) He headed towards these objects with two travelers on board: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Just a day before this successful launch, a helium leak was discovered, but engineers thought nothing of it. The ship could withstand up to 5. Unfortunately, the fifth leak has just been discovered, so now it’s time to decide what should be done to ensure maximum safety on the return trip.
This trip was supposed to take place a week after the launch. However, it was decided to postpone it until June 18, so that Williams and Wilmore could take part in a spacewalk on the ISS. This walk will take place today, June 13, while the mission members on Earth decide what to do with them. 5 leaks.
At this time they do not believe that the return journey should be delayed. The sewers will have to be closed until there is no choice but to use them, but no more. After all, to return to Earth you only need 7 hours free flight on the way back and with the helium they contained, right now the Starliner could fly freely for 70. It is important to ensure that there are no more problems, since 5 is already a lot of helium leaks, but this is not yet considered something catastrophic.
Starliner helium leak
The first helium leak from Starliner occurred literally the day before launch. However, Boeing scientists considered this frivolous and noted that It would be alarming if it reached 5.
The day after the launch, three more were discovered. The situation began to get complicated, but the fifth never arrived. It was now, when two astronauts were preparing to go into outer space, that he achieved this goal. Red line.
Those responsible for the project decided to close the Starliner sewers. They will only be opened for the return journey, as they are necessary for decoupling and deorbiting. If all goes well and there are no more helium leaks, that should be enough.
You also need to keep an eye on the propellers.
Another problem Starliner encountered after launch was the failure of the reaction control system motors. General, in capsule 28, of which 5 for some reason failed during the flight to the ISS. From the moment of arrival at the site, 4 of them returned to work correct, but continues to cause problems. Therefore, it will also need to be revised.
Meanwhile, Wilmore and Williams continue to test Starliner’s usefulness for future NASA missions. They tested their flight suits, the ship’s seats, and even the ability to turn it into emergency shelter. This means that if any problem occurs on the International Space Station, its crew will be able to take refuge on the Starliner while it remains docked. This is an important feature, so NASA can use it for its intended purpose. At the moment everything seems to be going perfectly. Fuel and helium leaks are much more of a concern, but it does not appear that there is an insurmountable problem.
Source: Hiper Textual
