Boeing’s Starliner capsule, carrying a pair of NASA astronauts, was close to docking with the International Space Station on Thursday, but ground crews were working to overcome a series of mechanical issues, including the loss of four thrusters, along the way.
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NASA troubleshooting Starliner issues ahead of docking at space station
NASA and Boeing decided that the spacecraft could continue to proceed with docking to the space station despite the discovery of the additional helium leaks. The helium is used to provide pressure to the flow of propellants through the propulsion system. It is not combustible or toxic, and officials said it posed no risk to the astronauts.
As Starliner approached the station Thursday morning, NASA reported that four of the spacecraft’s small “reaction control system” thrusters, used to make small maneuvers in orbit, had failed. It was not clear whether the failures were related to the helium leaks. NASA held the spacecraft out at some 850 feet before allowing it to proceed closer to the station, while Wilmore took over control of the autonomous spacecraft as part of a preplanned test of the manual controls.
The teams were able to bring two of the thrusters back online. And as ground crews continued to study the balky thrusters, they asked Wilmore to manually fly the spacecraft to the edge of an invisible barrier about 650 feet away from the station known as the “keep-out zone.”
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Starliner was originally supposed to dock with the station at 12:15 p.m., but NASA said that timeline is being pushed back while it troubleshoots the issues.
There are six people, four Americans and two Russians, currently living on the station. To protect them, visiting spacecraft have to remain at a safe distance before they are allowed to approach.
If Starliner is able to dock, the crew is expected to stay on the space station for a week or more, then fly back to Earth in the final leg of the mission, which would test the vehicle’s heat shield and parachute system. If all goes well, NASA would certify the vehicle for regular crew rotation flights, carrying a full contingent of four astronauts to and from the station.
NASA has been relying on SpaceX to fly its astronauts to the station since it first successfully completed a crewed test flight four years ago. But it has been eager for Starliner to come online so that it would have another American spacecraft able to transport its astronauts.
After the retirement of the space shuttle in 2011, NASA was forced to rely on Russia to fly its crews to the space station.