Join +750K new investors every month who copy stock picks from billionaire's portfoliosSign Up Free

NASA Confirms Boeing's Delayed Starliner Launch Despite Helium Leak

Published 24/05/2024, 19:10
© Reuters.  NASA Confirms Boeing\'s Delayed Starliner Launch Despite Helium Leak
BA
-
LMT
-

Benzinga - by Vandana Singh, Benzinga Editor.

Boeing (NYSE: BA) and NASA are reportedly advancing with launching the company’s Starliner capsule, set to carry U.S. astronauts for the first time, despite a stable leak in the spacecraft’s propulsion system.

This mission, known as the Starliner Crew Flight Test, is a critical final development test.

It aims to deliver a pair of NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station before commencing routine missions.

Also Read: Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Test Flight Postponed Due To Technical Issue, Continuing Challenges In Space Program

CNBC reported that the first crewed launch of Starliner is targeted for June 1, with backup opportunities on June 2, June 5, and June 6.

The debut of Starliner’s crew has faced years of delays, while SpaceX’s Dragon capsule has been regularly flying astronauts for NASA since 2020.

Boeing has incurred $1.5 billion in costs due to setbacks with Starliner, on top of nearly $5 billion in NASA development funds.

A launch attempt on May 6 was aborted two hours before liftoff due to an issue with the Atlas V rocket, built and operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT).

A ULA official noted that the rocket’s problematic valve was replaced within a week. Subsequently, a “small” helium leak in Starliner was identified, prompting new assessments of the capsule’s safety.

NASA Associate Administrator Ken Bowersox explained that the helium leak issue took time to analyze due to its complexity, emphasizing the collaborative effort required to resolve it.

Following analysis, NASA and Boeing determined the leak originated from a seal in one of the spacecraft’s helium propulsion system flanges.

Testing after the May 6 postponement indicated that the leak rate remained stable.

Citing NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich, CNBC noted that the plan is to monitor the leak before launch and reassess it after reaching the International Space Station.

Stich expressed confidence in the other seals’ integrity, noting that NASA has previously flown vehicles with small helium leaks, including missions by the Space Shuttle and SpaceX’s Dragon.

A final review of the leak is scheduled for May 29, with plans to roll the rocket and capsule to the launch pad on May 30 for the June 1 attempt.

Price Action: BA shares are up 1.28% at $174.42 at the last check on Friday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo via Shutterstock

© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Read the original article on Benzinga

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.