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Boeing Starliner launch delayed to Tuesday due to helium leak
Space Daily ^ | May 15, 2024 | Doug Cunningham

Posted on 05/16/2024 7:01:24 AM PDT by Salman

Boeing's Starliner flight to the International Space Station was delayed again due to a helium leak. NASA, Boeing and the United Launch Alliance said in a statemen Tuesday that the launch date will now come no earlier than Tuesday at 4:43 p.m. EDT.

"Starliner teams are working to resolve a small helium leak detected in the spacecraft's service module traced to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster. Helium is used in spacecraft thruster systems to allow the thrusters to fire and is not combustible or toxic," they said.

Boeing's statement said that it is working with NASA "developing spacecraft testing and operational solutions to address the issue."

"As a part of the testing, Boeing will bring the propulsion system up to flight pressurization just as it does prior to launch, and then allow the helium system to vent naturally to validate existing data and strengthen flight rationale," it said.

The previous delay was to replace a bad oxygen tank pressure regulation valve on the Atlas V rocket's Centaur upper stage. That valve passed a test, but the new issue has delayed the launch again.

...

(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: atlas5; boeing; centaur; helium; heliumleak; nasa; space; starliner; whatcouldgowrong
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1 posted on 05/16/2024 7:01:24 AM PDT by Salman
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To: Salman

Was everyone talking funny?


2 posted on 05/16/2024 7:02:35 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Technology is so OVER SENSORED today that more often than not it’s the sensors that malfunction and not the system they are monitoring.

It’s everywhere, new cars, new fangled fridges, appliances, hvac units.

Betcha they never launch.


3 posted on 05/16/2024 7:06:11 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: George from New England

“Betcha they never launch.”

Meanwhile at SpaceX............


4 posted on 05/16/2024 7:07:11 AM PDT by dljordan (What do you think?)
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To: Salman

5 posted on 05/16/2024 7:08:39 AM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT ELECTION is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: moovova

I discovered recently that helium is not combustible......I mistook it for hydrogen.

It seems you CAN learn something new ON FR...

occasionally anyway. Lol!


6 posted on 05/16/2024 7:12:39 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: Salman
NO PROBLEM
7 posted on 05/16/2024 7:14:54 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
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To: Salman

Paint “FAILURE” on the Boeing’s Starliners and send them to Museums if they’ll take them


8 posted on 05/16/2024 7:17:55 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Everyone sounded like Elmer Fudd.


9 posted on 05/16/2024 7:20:54 AM PDT by srmanuel (Q)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

Give me a pre “emissions controls” early 1960s car.


10 posted on 05/16/2024 7:24:53 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: Salman

Waiting again? I thought it was supposed to blow up— er go up a week ago. I guess I should have known it was delayed since it wasn’t mentioned in the news.


11 posted on 05/16/2024 7:27:32 AM PDT by webheart
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To: Salman

When asked about Boeing’s problems, program manager Sha’queesha Jefferson and chief engineer Mohammed al Mohammed assured reporters that the Starliner is the best space vehicle DEI could pdoduce.


12 posted on 05/16/2024 7:28:35 AM PDT by twister881
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To: twister881

I am very disappointed in NASA. I cannot take them seriously anymore, and haven’t for some time.


13 posted on 05/16/2024 7:33:06 AM PDT by rlmorel (In Today's Democrat America, The $5 Dollar Bill is the New $1 Dollar Bill.)
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To: George from New England

They try to use electronics to compensate for mechanical failure.

Front wheels out of alignment? Electronic power steering can compensate for that at the steering wheel so you don’t feel a thing. It’s crazy. Like Schrodingers front wheel alignment.


14 posted on 05/16/2024 7:37:58 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: rlmorel

Nelson is just another biden brain.


15 posted on 05/16/2024 7:38:31 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT back in 2006)
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To: V_TWIN

I knew it wasn’t helium in the Hindenburg...just couldn’t remember which gas was used. Thanks for the reminder! I hate getting old...


16 posted on 05/16/2024 7:39:43 AM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT ELECTION is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: V_TWIN

HElium is very expensive / in short supply, and lacks mass, which you need for a thruster. I’m surprised they don’t use something like Argon or even Krypton, that has more mass and is similarly non-combustible.


17 posted on 05/16/2024 7:49:44 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: V_TWIN

> I discovered recently that helium is not combustible..

But you can compress it and heat it up a couple hundred million degrees and fuse the atoms together ;-)


18 posted on 05/16/2024 7:50:59 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: Salman

Boeing needs wholesale replacement of top people all across the organization. It’s becoming as badly run as the government.


19 posted on 05/16/2024 7:52:29 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: rlmorel
I am very disappointed in NASA. I cannot take them seriously anymore, and haven’t for some time.

They can't do their original mission anymore but they are all over "man made climate change".

20 posted on 05/16/2024 8:29:50 AM PDT by pfflier
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