Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft experienced five helium leaks while connecting to the International Space Station (ISS), forcing NASA and the manufacturer to postpone the astronauts’ return date.
The Starliner’s inaugural mission to the space station on June 5 marked a significant advancement for Boeing in the private space exploration sector.
The Starliner connects with the International Space Station on June 6. (Photo: REUTERS).
However, the 24-hour journey to the ISS was marred by issues, including the helium leak and the failure of five out of 28 thruster engines. Boeing managed to restore operation to four engines before the Starliner successfully connected with the space station.
On June 12, Reuters reported that NASA confirmed another helium leak had occurred on the Starliner, the gas used in operating the thruster engines.
Initially, the Starliner was scheduled to detach from the ISS on June 14 and bring two American astronauts back to Earth. However, the helium leak and other factors led NASA and Boeing to announce that the earliest return date for the spacecraft would be June 18.
While the exact amount of helium lost during the connection with the ISS is still unclear, Boeing stated that its ground engineering team has checked the helium supply and the extent of the leak, concluding that the Starliner has enough helium for the return mission to Earth.
The Starliner spacecraft can connect with the ISS for a maximum of 45 days, according to officials from NASA as reported by Reuters.
