NASA and Boeing are still working to get the Starliner spacecraft back in operation. The aerospace giant’s shuttle has faced numerous technical issues since its last journey to the International Space Station. Despite investing billions of dollars into the project, Boeing has struggled to overcome problems with its propulsion system.
The company’s first crewed attempt was marred by overheating thrusters and a damaged thermal protection system. Investigations revealed that repeated firings caused Teflon seals to bulge, affecting propellant flow. To address these issues, NASA is considering upgrades, including barriers within the doghouse to regulate temperatures and changing thruster pulse profiles.
Boeing has lost over $2 billion on the project so far, but its new CEO remains committed to seeing it through. The company plans to conduct further testing in the coming months and hopes to determine when it can resume flight operations.
According to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich, the agency will continue to work toward crew certification this year and then schedule Starliner’s next mission. While a launch date has not been set, Stich suggests that it may happen late this year or early next year.
Source: https://futurism.com/nasa-investigating-boeing-starliner-in-flight-anomalies