Boeing Starliner docks at ISS in 1st crewed test flight after team finds helium leaks
Boeing Starliner A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard launches from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA)
By Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Boeing’s Starliner successfully docked at the International Space Station on Thursday afternoon, bringing a pair of NASA astronauts to the orbiting laboratory as part of the spacecraft’s first crewed test flight.
Update 1:40 p.m. EDT June 6: The NASA Docking System at the ISS captured the Starliner just before 1:35 p.m. EDT, according to Boeing officials. The spacecraft was docked at the ISS by 1:34 p.m., NASA said.
Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams will spend about a week on ISS before returning home.
Original report: One of the leaks had been identified before the spacecraft lifted off on a trip to the International Space Station, and NASA discussed a management plan to deal with it, officials said.
“Two of the affected helium valves have been closed and the spacecraft remains stable,” officials said late Wednesday on social media.
On Thursday, NASA said the Starliner crew — consisting of commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and pilot Sunita “Suni” Williams — and ISS mission management teams “are ‘go’ to proceed with space station arrival” despite the leaks.
“The flight control team will continue to monitor the leak rates in Starliner’s propulsion system,” officials said. “After docking, all of Starliner manifolds will be closed per normal plans. All other Starliner systems are functioning normally.”
The Starliner is expected to dock around 12:15 p.m., and Wilmore and Williams will remain on the orbiting laboratory for about a week.
Wednesday’s launch marked the first crewed test flight for the Starliner as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. As part of the program NASA partners with American aerospace companies “to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil.”
“The goal of the program is to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation on space station missions, which will allow for additional research time,” according to the agency.
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NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test Preflight A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA)
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams wave as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. . (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara/AP)
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Boeing Starliner launch A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Monday, June 3, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test is the first launch with astronauts of the Boeing CFT-100 spacecraft and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The flight test, targeted for launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 5, serves as an end-to-end demonstration of Boeing’s crew transportation system and will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the orbiting laboratory. (Joel Kowsky/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrive back at the Launch and Landing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, ahead of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. The first launch attempt on May 6 was scrubbed. As part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, Wilmore and Williams are the first to launch to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (Cory S Huston/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Monday, June 3, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test is the first launch with astronauts of the Boeing CFT-100 spacecraft and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The flight test, targeted for launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 5, serves as an end-to-end demonstration of Boeing’s crew transportation system and will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the orbiting laboratory. (Joel Kowsky/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch After suit-up and final fit checks, NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams participate in a traditional game of cards inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a launch attempt on Saturday, June 1, 2024. The crew members are preparing for launch to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was targeted for 12:25 p.m. EDT but scrubbed for the day. (Glenn Benson/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Monday, June 3, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test is the first launch with astronauts of the Boeing CFT-100 spacecraft and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The flight test, targeted for launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 5, serves as an end-to-end demonstration of Boeing’s crew transportation system and will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the orbiting laboratory. (Joel Kowsky/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore poses for photos during his arrival back at the Launch and Landing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, ahead of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. The first launch attempt on May 6 was scrubbed. As part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, Wilmore and fellow crew member Suni Williams are the first to launch to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (Cory S Huston/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch A Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is seen aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, Monday, June 3, 2024 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test is the first launch with astronauts of the Boeing CFT-100 spacecraft and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. The flight test, targeted for launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 5, serves as an end-to-end demonstration of Boeing’s crew transportation system and will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the orbiting laboratory. (Joel Kowsky/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch NASA astronaut Suni Williams poses for photos during her arrival back at the Launch and Landing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, ahead of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. The first launch attempt on May 6 was scrubbed. As part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, Williams and fellow crew member Butch Wilmore are the first to launch to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (Cory S Huston/NASA)
Boeing Starliner launch NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and a United Launch Alliance technician stand near the crew access arm at Space Launch Complex-41 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (NASA Television)
Boeing Starliner launch NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronaut Suni Williams waves ahead of the Boeing Starliner's planned liftoff on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (NASA Television)
Boeing Starliner launch The crew access arm retracts from Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida ahead of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (NASA Television)
Boeing Starliner launch A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a Boeing Starliner spacecraft launches NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard at 10:52 a.m. ET Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (NASA Television)