The Boeing Starliner is still connected to ground, since engineers struggle to root a problem with the propulsion valves that threaten to promote the critical orbital test of flight-2 (OTF-2) to September.
NASA, Boeing and United Lanzy Alliance (ULA): A joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing: They are working to correct a malfunction of the valve that occurred during the launch of the launch of the AUGUST STARLINER.
Engineers worked “to restore functionality at several valves in the Starliner propulsion system that was not opened as designed during the launch countdown for the launch attempt on August 3. The valves connect to the propellers that allow them to allow The abortion and maneuver in orbit “, according to a NASA blog post.
In the ULA vertical integration installation (VIF), near the launch of the complex space-41 at the Cape Canaverral Space Station, engineers have been able to feed the Starliner capsule, which allows it to receive commands to help solve the Problem that has kept the capsule. Based on last week.
Seven of the 13 valves that were kept closed when they should have opened during a test prior to the launch, engineers have been abexed by engineers, but have not yet traced what keeps them closed. Boeing has been able to rule out external physical or chemical damage or corrosion to the affected valves.
NASA said the Starliner will remain in the VIF until the engineers have been able to isolate the root problem, correct the problem and verify the “repeatable system performance”.
NASA, Boeing and Ula are looking at the calendar to determine the remaining launch windows in August that Boeing and ULA could reach realistically. “If all the functionality of the valve can be restored and the cause of the root is identified,” said NASA, “NASA will work with Boeing to determine a path to fly for the important mission without session to the [International Space Station ( ISS)] “.
This is the second Boeing attempt to get your Starliner capsule choked with the ISS after the first attempt that became orbit, but a malfunction of automation maintained the capsule even approaching the ISS. Meanwhile, Boeing Rival Spacex, has already flown to the members of the human crew to the ISS and returned them to Earth, after having successfully docked their test flight without retention in March 2019.
It is difficult to underestimate the importance of this flight for Boeing. SpaceX is gaining a significant lead on the legacy contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, so much so that it is seriously cut into its historically constant income from the Government and other major commercial and industrial actors.
I like it or not, it is no longer about pride and the ego for Boeing. If Spacex continues to run as well as, while Boeing struggles on an early immersion test flight for a capsule that is assumed that eventually leads people to the ISS, and who knows when it could happen at this point, Boeing and Ula can Finding that its lucrative government contracts are lighter and clearer with each successful space launch.
