Posted on 05/16/2024 7:01:24 AM PDT by Salman
Boeing's Starliner flight to the International Space Station was delayed again due to a helium leak. NASA, Boeing and the United Launch Alliance said in a statemen Tuesday that the launch date will now come no earlier than Tuesday at 4:43 p.m. EDT.
"Starliner teams are working to resolve a small helium leak detected in the spacecraft's service module traced to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster. Helium is used in spacecraft thruster systems to allow the thrusters to fire and is not combustible or toxic," they said.
Boeing's statement said that it is working with NASA "developing spacecraft testing and operational solutions to address the issue."
"As a part of the testing, Boeing will bring the propulsion system up to flight pressurization just as it does prior to launch, and then allow the helium system to vent naturally to validate existing data and strengthen flight rationale," it said.
The previous delay was to replace a bad oxygen tank pressure regulation valve on the Atlas V rocket's Centaur upper stage. That valve passed a test, but the new issue has delayed the launch again.
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(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...
Was everyone talking funny?
Technology is so OVER SENSORED today that more often than not it’s the sensors that malfunction and not the system they are monitoring.
It’s everywhere, new cars, new fangled fridges, appliances, hvac units.
Betcha they never launch.
“Betcha they never launch.”
Meanwhile at SpaceX............
I discovered recently that helium is not combustible......I mistook it for hydrogen.
It seems you CAN learn something new ON FR...
occasionally anyway. Lol!
Paint “FAILURE” on the Boeing’s Starliners and send them to Museums if they’ll take them
Everyone sounded like Elmer Fudd.
Give me a pre “emissions controls” early 1960s car.
Waiting again? I thought it was supposed to blow up— er go up a week ago. I guess I should have known it was delayed since it wasn’t mentioned in the news.
When asked about Boeing’s problems, program manager Sha’queesha Jefferson and chief engineer Mohammed al Mohammed assured reporters that the Starliner is the best space vehicle DEI could pdoduce.
I am very disappointed in NASA. I cannot take them seriously anymore, and haven’t for some time.
They try to use electronics to compensate for mechanical failure.
Front wheels out of alignment? Electronic power steering can compensate for that at the steering wheel so you don’t feel a thing. It’s crazy. Like Schrodingers front wheel alignment.
Nelson is just another biden brain.
I knew it wasn’t helium in the Hindenburg...just couldn’t remember which gas was used. Thanks for the reminder! I hate getting old...
HElium is very expensive / in short supply, and lacks mass, which you need for a thruster. I’m surprised they don’t use something like Argon or even Krypton, that has more mass and is similarly non-combustible.
> I discovered recently that helium is not combustible..
But you can compress it and heat it up a couple hundred million degrees and fuse the atoms together ;-)
Boeing needs wholesale replacement of top people all across the organization. It’s becoming as badly run as the government.
They can't do their original mission anymore but they are all over "man made climate change".
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