Boeing’s Starliner has successfully reached and docked with International Space Station, completing an important step for a Crucial test trip That will determine if it is ready for manned missions. The unmanned spacecraft launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral and traveled more than 25 hours to reach the orbiting laboratory.
Starliner made its first attempt to reach the International Space Station in December 2019 but failed to achieve its goal due to a software issue that prevented the launch of the spacecraft’s engines. In August last year, Boeing was forced to cancel launch plans due to a problem with the spacecraft’s valves, which prevented the company from planning another launch for about a year.
Despite its success, the Orbital Flight-2 test was not without its problems. Like Washington Post According to reports, two of the 12 main thrusters failed shortly after launch, and the temperature control system failed. The docking was also delayed by over an hour as the ground team made sure the lighting was perfect and communications were working as intended. There was a problem with the spacecraft’s docking mechanism as well, and it had to pull the system out before extending it again.
Boeing said the Starliner’s main thrusters failed due to low pressure in the thrust chamber, but it’s not clear why. The company’s vice president, Mark Naby, explained that because the motives are in the service module that was discarded during the return flight, Boeing may never find out the exact cause of this. However, NASA and the company plan to examine other issues that occurred to understand and prevent them from happening in the future.
The Starliner will remain attached to the International Space Station for the next five days before making its return flight, which will see it land in the New Mexico desert. If the spacecraft succeeds in returning to Earth, it could be Boeing Sending astronauts into orbit early this fall.
All products recommended by Engadget are handpicked by our editorial team, independently of the parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
“Infuriatingly humble analyst. Bacon maven. Proud food specialist. Certified reader. Avid writer. Zombie advocate. Incurable problem solver.”
More Stories
Why did Saturn’s moons remain hidden from view?
Mars helicopter home after 63 days of silence • The record
NASA’s innovative Mars Helicopter finally calls home