NASA Is Launching The Starliner Again... Worst Decision! скачать в хорошем качестве

NASA Is Launching The Starliner Again... Worst Decision!

The Boeing Starliner program has been one of the most expensive and disappointing parts of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Boeing was given the largest contract — up to $4.6 billion — to develop a spacecraft that could transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. But after more than ten years, Starliner still isn’t certified for regular crew missions. Meanwhile, its competitor, SpaceX, has completed multiple successful missions with its Crew Dragon spacecraft and has become NASA’s main transport provider. So far, NASA has paid Boeing about $2.7 billion. Most of that money went into developing the Starliner, and the rest is reserved for future missions. But Boeing can only get the remaining $1.9 billion if it successfully completes six operational crew flights. Right now, it hasn’t completed even one. In fact, the most recent Starliner mission in 2024 ended with serious technical problems. Although the spacecraft managed to carry two astronauts — Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — to the international space station, it was not safe enough to bring them back to Earth. NASA had to send a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to rescue them. This mission exposed serious technical failures in Boeing's Starliner spacecraft — issues that were not only dangerous but also deeply concerning given the program’s long history of delays and problems. During the June 2024 crewed flight, five of the spacecraft’s 28 reaction control system (RCS) thrusters malfunctioned as it was approaching the International Space Station (ISS). These thrusters are essential for maneuvering the spacecraft during docking and orbital operations. Although the mission team managed to bring four of the five thrusters back online, it required real-time troubleshooting and placed both the spacecraft and the astronauts at risk. But the thruster problem wasn’t the only failure. The spacecraft also suffered multiple helium leaks in its propulsion system. Helium is used to pressurize the fuel tanks and help push propellant through the engines. A loss of helium can lead to a total failure in the ability to control the spacecraft’s movements — which is a life-threatening risk in space, especially during critical phases like docking or reentry. These were not theoretical concerns. The system had actual leaks in multiple locations during the mission, and engineers were forced to closely monitor and manage the problem throughout the flight.