Latest news with #Starliner
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
'Doghouse' days of summer — Boeing's Starliner won't fly again until 2026, and without astronauts aboard
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Traffic at the International Space Station (ISS) is busy, with spacecraft coming and going almost every few weeks recently. Astronauts with the private Ax-4 mission undocked early July 14 to make way for SpaceX's upcoming Crew-11 mission for NASA, a SpaceX Cargo Dragon left the station at the end of May, and a Russian Progress cargo spacecraft arrived July 5, with its predecessor set to depart next month. By the end of the year, nearly a half-dozen other spacecraft will launch to the ISS, delivering crew, cargo, research and technology demonstrations. It's one of the busiest eras the orbital laboratory has ever experienced, as recent years, especially, have seen a high increase of activity. But absent from the mix of shuffling spacecraft, at least for the rest of 2025, is Boeing's Starliner. The last update provided about the stalled but stalwart space capsule announced a suite of tests set for this summer at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. NASA and Boeing had hoped to have those tests completed and fixes determined to ready Starliner for another flight by the end of this year, but that timeline seems to have slipped. NASA officials say they are now working toward the goal of launching Starliner again no sooner than early 2026. Starliner launched on its first astronaut mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), in June 2024, carrying NASA astronauts Sunita "Suni" Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS on a mission expected to last about a week. It wasn't the spacecraft's first flight — Starliner launched on two uncrewed orbital flight tests (OFTs), one in 2019 and the other in 2022. OFT-1 was meant to dock with the ISS, but a software anomaly led to an incorrect orbital insertion burn that prevented the rendezvous altogether. A few inflight hiccups notwithstanding, OFT-2 addressed the issues of its predecessor mission, reached the ISS and successfully paved the way for the spacecraft's first flight with astronauts onboard. On their way to the ISS, Williams and Wilmore put Starliner through its paces, performing a series of maneuvering tests before its final approach and docking with the space station. Unfortunately, their shakedown cruise was a little too shaky. Four protective enclosures known as "doghouses" are mounted around the perimeter of Starliner's service module. Each contains a cluster of reaction control system (RCS) thrusters used for attitude control and fine maneuvering. Starliner's OMAC (Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude Control) thrusters are also located within the doghouses. Both systems use helium pressurization and the same propellants delivered through a shared network of feed lines and valves, creating a complex and interconnected system within each housing. Once CFT was on orbit, Starliner experienced multiple helium leaks traced to components within these doghouses, as well as the in-flight failure of five out of its 28 RCS thrusters. As a result, Williams and Wilmore's stay aboard the ISS was extended multiple times while NASA and Boeing troubleshot the issues from the ground. Out of an abundance of caution, the decision was ultimately made to return Starliner to Earth without the astronauts aboard. Starliner's return happened without incident in September, with the spacecraft successfully parachuting down for an uncrewed landing in White Sands, New Mexico. (NASA would later indicate that the CFT crew would have been fine returning on Starliner, but, as with all things space, better safe than sorry.) Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore were absorbed into the ISS long-term crew rotation and made part of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission and ISS Expeditions 71/72. They returned with the two otherCrew-9 astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom in March, their one-week orbital stay coming to an end more than eight months later than originally expected. By then, NASA and Boeing had performed extensive analyses of the issues inside Starliner's doghouses and slated the affected components for evaluation at NASA's White Sands testing facility this summer. "We know that we get some permeation of oxidizer vapor across [the thrusters], and the seal that we had was not very robust for oxidizer exposure," explained Steve Stich, NASA commercial crew program manager, during a press briefing on July 10. "We have various materials and tests right now to improve that seal on the helium interface at the flange of the thruster." Those tests will help determine a new material for use to prevent those leaks in the future and to provide better insulation from the doghouses' other components and thrusters. To better understand the effects of temperature swings within the doghouses, NASA is performing a series of "pulse trains" designed to cycle through a sequence of thruster burns at varying intensities and frequencies. "We're learning a lot about the differences in the oxidizer valve temperatures," Stich explained. "The thruster has [oxidizer] that comes in on one side and fuel that comes in the other. We're learning a lot about the differences in those temperatures as a function of pulse training." Those tests are designed to inform thermal models for an integrated doghouse test at White Sands, which is expected to begin sometime near the end of next month, according to Stich. "That'll involve a series of RCS thrusters being fired at the same time as our OMAC orbital maneuvering thrusters to understand the heat going into that doghouse," he said. Some improvements to Starliner's doghouses have already been made, Stich indicated, including thermal modifications like the addition of a shunt and other barriers designed to prevent heat from the OMACs radiating back into the housing cluster. "So, we're making a lot of progress in understanding the thermal performance. These will build the informed thermal modeling," Stich said. As for when Starliner might make its way back to the launch pad, it seems 2025 is no longer on the table. "We really are working toward a flight as soon as early next year," Stich said. He added, however, that NASA is hoping to begin crew rotation flights "no earlier than the second rotation spot at the end of next year." NASA crew rotations aboard the ISS typically last six to eight months, lining up two launches per year to ferry astronauts to and from the orbital laboratory. Slating the first crewed, operational Starliner mission for the end of 2026 likely means the spacecraft's next launch won't include any astronauts aboard. "There's a strong chance we'll fly a cargo flight first," Stich said. "What we're really looking at is, can we test all the changes that we are making, to the doghouses in particular, and would we want to validate those in flight first?" he explained. NASA has been eager for Starliner to gain its crew certification. Both Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon were chosen for development in 2014 under the space agency's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contracts, with the intent of introducing redundant access to low Earth orbit (LEO) for the United States through at least 2030, around when the ISS is expected to be officially decommissioned. Beginning with its cargo variant, SpaceX evolved Dragon into a crew-capable spacecraft and began flying astronaut missions to the space station in 2020. Dragon's eleventh operational NASA crew launch is slated for the end of July. Even with SpaceX's success, though, NASA still sees Starliner as a critical part of the agency's human spaceflight goals in LEO. RELATED STORIES: — How NASA's Starliner mission went from 10 days to 9 months: A timeline — 'There was some tension in the room', NASA says of decision to bring Boeing's Starliner spacecraft home without astronauts — NASA still mulling options for Boeing's troubled Starliner astronaut capsule "Even SpaceX is cheering on Starliner," NASA astronaut Mike Fincke told "The more ways we have to get to space, the more people can fly in space, the better it is for our country," he said. Fincke will serve as mission pilot for Crew-11 when it launches this summer, but his spot as part of the next SpaceX crew was solidified, in part, because of the delays Starliner has faced over the last several years. He was originally assigned to fly as pilot for Starliner-1, and he has therefore trained extensively aboard the Boeing spacecraft. Despite the problems Starliner has faced, Fincke says he would still love to fly aboard the Boeing capsule. "When NASA says it's ready to go fly again with people, I hope they sign me up," he said. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Boeing Secures Strategic Satellite Deal, Cementing Role in U.S. Space Defense Infrastructure
Boeing (NYSE:BA) is one of the best space stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On July 3, 2025, Boeing secured a significant $2.8 billion contract with the U.S. Space Force to develop and produce the first two, and potentially up to four, Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) vehicles, integral to the nation's next-generation nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture in geostationary orbit. Angelo Giampiccolo/ ESS satellites will inherit proven tech from Boeing's Wideband Global SATCOM and O3b mPOWER programs, ensuring a low-risk, high-performance deployment. Work is slated through 2033 out of El Segundo, CA, and includes $100 million in initial R&D funding. Boeing is a global aerospace titan, designing and manufacturing commercial jets (737, 787), military aircraft, satellites, and space tech like the CST‑100 Starliner, plus offering defense, security, and services across commercial and government sectors. While we acknowledge the potential of BA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
UPI
5 days ago
- Science
- UPI
Boeing looks for Starliner fixes despite costs, ISS age
1 of 4 | The Boeing Company has confirmed it continues to look for solutions to problems with its Starliner spacecraft that have left the over-budget project unable to carry passengers. File Photo courtesy of NASA | License Photo July 18 (UPI) -- The Boeing Company has confirmed it continues to look for solutions to problems with its Starliner spacecraft that have left the over-budget project unable to carry passengers. Boeing confirmed this week it is pushing ahead and trying to address helium plug seal leaks on the spacecraft, as well as problems with its thermal shunts and issues with overheating thrusters. The company's officials have already said the spacecraft's next flight won't happen until at least early next year and likely will carry only cargo, with no crew. Boeing is working with its propulsion supplier, California-based defense contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, to find solutions to the ongoing issues. The Boeing Starliner has been plagued by problems, is already more than $2 billion over budget and currently grounded at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first test flight took pace in June of 2024. It last flew in September 2024 when it returned unmanned from the International Space Station, landing at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. The crewless return was out of precaution because of helium leaks and thruster issues and left the two-person NASA crew stranded aboard the ISS. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams only returned to earth this past March aboard a SpaceX Dragon rocket with that company's crew. Wilmore and Williams spent nine months in space because of the issues with Boeing's Starliner. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeing's Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at the time. "I'm grateful to both the NASA and Boeing teams for all their incredible and detailed work." Boeing announced the Starliner program in 2010 and originally forecast the ship would be in regular service by 2015 to help carry NASA personnel to and from the ISS. Over a decade later, issues persist and the company has yet to begin a multi-billion dollar contract with NASA. "We really are working toward a flight as soon as early next year with Starliner, and then ultimately, our goal is to get into crew rotation flights with Starliner," NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich told reporters this week. "And those would start no earlier than the second crew rotation slot at the end of next year." The work continues despite NASA predictions the ISS will deorbit and crash in the South Pacific Ocean near Point Nemo in January of 2031. Former President Joe Biden's administration said the space station would remain in service until 2030, after it was launched in 1998. Boeing stock was down $2.42 or 1.05% to $228.58 as of noon Friday. Shares were also in the red for the week as a whole.
India Today
5 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Starliner that stranded Sunita Williams in space will not fly until 2026
It does not look like Boeing's Starliner will get clearance to fly to space till International Space Station (ISS) is experiencing one of its busiest periods on record, with spacecraft arrivals and departures occurring almost every few weeks in a flurry of global and commercial early July, the private Ax-4 mission departed the ISS to make way for NASA's upcoming Crew-11 mission, while SpaceX's Cargo Dragon wrapped up its latest resupply in late Meanwhile, Russia's Progress 92 cargo ship docked on July 5, joining a lineup of international vehicles currently berthed at the orbital to NASA, at present, four spacecraft—including SpaceX Dragon, Soyuz MS-27, and two Progress resupply ships—are docked to the ISS, supporting a dynamic crew rotation and steady high frequency of traffic is expected to continue, as up to six more vehicles are scheduled to launch to the station before year's end, carrying crew members, research payloads, and new technology demonstrations. The breadth of participation from NASA, Roscosmos, SpaceX, and partners marks an unprecedented era of activity for the ISS since its inception in missing from this parade of vehicles for the remainder of 2025 is Boeing's Starliner. After its first astronaut mission in June 2024, which brought NASA astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS, Starliner encountered issues with its thruster systems, specifically in its doghouse-enclosed reaction control capsule's safe uncrewed return underscored ongoing technical concerns. Though NASA and Boeing initially aimed for a return to flight by late 2025, a new timetable has shifted the next Starliner mission to no sooner than early are currently performing extensive tests and evaluations at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New astronauts Williams and Wilmore ultimately joined SpaceX's Crew-9 rotation, extending their stay on the station far beyond the planned one returned to Earth aboard Crew Dragon Freedom earlier this year, reflecting the ISS's adaptability as new crew vehicles come online and face real-world the ISS continues to host an ever-changing suite of international visitors, it remains at the heart of global space exploration, even as new spacecraft like Starliner work through the demanding realities of orbital service.- EndsMust Watch
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
If You Thought Your Life Was a Mess, Spare a Thought for Boeing's Starliner
Even after pouring $2 billion into its much-maligned Starliner spacecraft, NASA and Boeing remain committed to getting back off the ground. As Ars Technica reports, the head of NASA's commercial crew program, Steve Stich, revealed last week that Boeing and its propulsion supplier, Aerojet Rocketdyne, are making considerable changes to the astronaut shuttle following a disastrous first crewed mission to the International Space Station last year. The spacecraft experienced several "in-flight anomalies," forcing NASA to have it return to the Earth without NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were left stranded on board the International Space Station for nine long months as a result. Boeing also faces intense competition. Starliner is being developed under the same NASA program as SpaceX's far more successful Crew Dragon capsule, which has sent 11 crews to the ISS over the last five years. And even with the anticipated retirement of the aging orbital lab, which is set to begin in 2030, NASA remains steadfast to get Starliner off the ground, something that's not expected to happen until 2026, per Stich. That's a whopping 11 years after Boeing officials originally expected the spacecraft to become operational. "We really are working toward a flight as soon as early next year with Starliner, and then ultimately, our goal is to get into crew rotation flights with Starliner," Stich told reporters. "And those would start no earlier than the second crew rotation slot at the end of next year." If all of this feels far too little, far too late, you're not alone. Even with yet another massive delay, Boeing is looking to fly only cargo on board its Starliner spacecraft, meaning that the first successful crewed trip into orbit could be even further out. The project appeared disastrous enough for NASA and Boeing to get close to dumping Starliner altogether last year. However, Boeing's new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, breathed new life into the cursed spacecraft, claiming in April that it would be "pretty straightforward" to fix Starliner's thruster issues. Despite all its successful trips to the ISS, Musk announced last month that SpaceX would "immediately" begin shutting down its Dragon spacecraft, a kneejerk comment he made shortly after blowing up his relationship with president Donald Trump in spectacular fashion. However, Musk reversed course mere hours later, agreeing to "cool off" and saying that "we won't decommission Dragon." Nonetheless, the billionaire's bromance with Trump continues to devolve into bitter fighting; nobody knows whether Musk will continue to help NASA man the aging space station. Musk has also called on the space agency to destroy the ISS as soon as possible, erroneously arguing that "it has served its purpose." Where all that drama leaves Starliner, which has turned into a major headache for NASA, remains to be seen. The Trump administration has already signaled that it's looking to cut back the ISS' budget considerably, making the capsule an extremely expensive and in some ways already obsolete afterthought. More on Starliner: Boeing's Starliner Disaster Was Even Worse Than We Thought, Astronaut Reveals Solve the daily Crossword
