Those murmurs of prolonged delays for Boeing’s subsequent Starliner take a look at flight turned out to be true. Space.com reports Boeing and NASA are actually targeting an Orbital Flight Test-2 launch someday within the first half of 2022. Engineers have narrowed down the possible causes of the oxidizer isolation valve drawback that pressured the workforce to scrap the August 2021 launch, nevertheless it stays a “complex issue” that requires a “methodical approach” to unravel, in keeping with Commercial Crew Program supervisor Steve Stich.
Boeing has a number of potential options within the works, starting from small tweaks to the present crew capsule via to modifying a capsule nonetheless in manufacturing. The actual launch timing hinges on each the readiness of the {hardware} itself in addition to the rocket manifest and entry to the International Space Station.
While this does counsel Starliner is transferring ahead, the delay additional hurts Boeing’s probabilities to compete with SpaceX in crewed capsule missions. SpaceX has already despatched two crewed missions to the ISS, and it could have despatched two extra by the point the Starliner OFT-2 mission lifts off — Elon Musk’s outfit shall be a seasoned veteran earlier than Boeing is cleared for its first occupied Starliner flight. It might be an extended whereas earlier than the 2 corporations are taking turns ferrying individuals to orbit.
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