Boeing said its starliner spacecraft is experiencing five small helium leaks as the crew's mission aboard the iss was extended to june 18. Launch is june 1, but that's pending a flight readiness review. Dissimilar redundancy boeing's starliner finally soars, but mission control reports more helium leaks despite new leaks, mission control says starliner can still dock with the space station.
Boeing's Starliner Faces Fifth Helium Leak During ISS Mission
Focusing more on the location and how they were found, they first tested all 8 of starliner's helium manifolds, and found that the leak was isolated to one flange in one of the spacecraft's 28 rcs thrusters or reaction control system thrusters which are used to make small adjustments while the vehicle is on orbit.
Starliner teams detected a helium leak before launch, two more after liftoff, and now a fourth and fifth leak with the vehicle docked at the iss
The spacecraft and crew safely reach their destination after nasa and boeing discovered additional helium leaks and thruster issues. The starliner capsule already had one small helium leak when it rocketed into orbit with two nasa astronauts wednesday Boeing and nasa managers were confident they could manage the propulsion system despite the problem and that more leaks were unlikely. Nasa and boeing are still working through complicated issues arising from a small starliner spacecraft helium leak
