Boeing achieved a major milestone on Thursday as its new Starliner crew capsule successfully docked at the International Space Station, albeit after being delayed by thruster malfunctions that nearly derailed the linkup during this crucial uncrewed test flight.
The 260-mile high rendezvous culminated over a day of continuing drama for Boeing, which has worked for years to get its astronaut taxi service off the ground after being beset by numerous delays and safety concerns.
While the Starliner capsule had one small helium leak before its launch on Wednesday carrying two NASA test pilots, more potentially serious propulsion system issues emerged just hours into the orbital flight test.
Two additional helium leaks cropped up, followed by four of the capsule’s 28 thrusters failing – key components needed for precisely maneuvering the spacecraft. The test pilots managed to restart three of the balky thrusters, providing enough propulsion to proceed despite having to pass on the initial docking opportunity.
Boeing has stated the leaks posed no immediate safety threat, with the capsule carrying sufficient helium reserves. The thrusters themselves were intended to be disabled after docking since they wouldn’t be needed at the space station.
However, the malfunctions raised concerns about whether they stemmed from the helium leak issues. Boeing believes a faulty rubber seal may be the culprit behind the original leak, while the root cause of the thruster glitches remains under investigation.
Despite the hiccups demonstrating Starliner still has some creases to iron out, the capsule’s safe arrival at the orbiting lab keeps Boeing’s long-delayed crew taxi program burning towards its goal of providing NASA with a second commercial option for transporting astronauts to and from the space station.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule has ferried numerous crews since beginning operations in 2020 after ending America’s reliance on Russian rockets for space station rides following the retirement of the space shuttle program.
Boeing plans to keep the Starliner docked at the ISS for at least eight days to evaluate its performance before guiding the capsule back for a landing in the western U.S. as early as next week. Successful completion of this orbital test flight would then set the stage for Starliner’s long-awaited crewed debut carrying NASA astronauts.
While overcoming its latest challenges, Boeing still has work ahead to restore confidence in the Starliner system. But the docking brought a sense of relief after a tumultuous maiden orbital mission that could have been catastrophic if the test pilots didn’t manage to improvise solutions.