Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Boeing’s Starliner capsule successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6, but its docking was delayed due to a malfunction in five of its reaction-control thrusters.
Starliner made contact with the ISS at 1:34 p.m. EDT as they flew over the southern Indian Ocean, after missing its initial docking opportunity.
Initially, five out of Starliner’s 28 reaction-control thrusters malfunctioned, causing the delay. However, the mission team managed to bring four of them back online, allowing the capsule to proceed with docking.
Starliner embarked on its first-ever astronaut mission, called Crew Flight Test (CFT), on June 5, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS for a week-long stay.
The Starliner’s journey has been marked by a series of malfunctions, delays, and glitches. Despite being rescheduled five times due to various issues, the spacecraft finally launched, only to face further malfunctions while in space. The project is currently running four years behind schedule, and even its first human flight test is encountering problems during its mission in space.
However, after safely docking after the thrusters issue, Wilmore and Williams were welcomed aboard the ISS by the Expedition 71 crew with a ringing bell, music, and zero gravity “dancing,” marking a joyous reunion in space.
Wilmore and Williams, both experienced astronauts, expressed their excitement and familiarity upon returning to the ISS, where they had previously completed missions.
Successful completion of CFT paved the way for Starliner to be certified for long-duration astronaut missions to the ISS, as part of Boeing’s $4.2 billion contract with NASA.
Starliner faced thruster issues during its journey to the ISS, following helium leaks detected after reaching orbit. Despite these challenges, the mission progressed. This suggests that Starliner may not meet the required safety standards for flight. Boeing has encountered challenges with the manufacturing quality of its aircraft, and the issues with the faulty spacecraft could necessitate a reassessment for the company.