Developing a rocket is not an easy task; in fact, it’s probably one of the most challenging engineering tasks out there. It’s not without reason that the saying “It’s not rocket science” is very common, proving why spacecraft development often stretches over many years. The public generally understands and accepts these lengthy timelines. However, when a project takes years to develop and still fails to produce a successful test or results, patience can wear thin. The Boeing Starliner program exemplifies this situation well.
Back in 2014, NASA decided to partner with Boeing to work on a spacecraft called the Starliner. This was part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which began to get more companies involved in space travel. The goal was to make a spacecraft that could go to the International Space Station without having to rely on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, which was the only way to get astronauts to the ISS after the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.
However, NASA didn’t get what it hoped for from Boeing right away. The Starliner project faced multiple problems and experienced several delays.
One of the first major setbacks occurred during the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test. The spacecraft encountered software issues that prevented it from reaching the correct orbit to dock with the ISS. This mishap was a significant blow to the program. Further investigation revealed not one, but two critical software issues occured.
Boeing and NASA decided to conduct a second uncrewed test flight, OFT-2, to verify and resolve any issues before proceeding with crewed flights. However, this second test flight was also delayed several times, first due to the need for more thorough testing and verification of the corrections to the software issues and then due to technical problems discovered during pre-launch preparations, including issues with the spacecraft’s valves.
Originally, the Starliner was supposed to begin operational missions to the ISS as early as 2017. Yet, as of now, it has not completed its crewed flight test.
Although we have heard Boeing say this multiple times before, they are saying the test will happen on April 22. This upcoming Crew Flight Test is a crucial milestone for the Starliner program. Assuming the launch goes ahead as planned, two veteran NASA astronauts will pilot the spacecraft to the International Space Station, marking a significant step forward in the Commercial Crew Program. The mission, expected to last about 10 days, will include docking with the ISS and an airbag-cushioned, parachute-assisted landing in New Mexico upon return to Earth.
Now, Boeing being close to the Crew Flight Test is certainly good news, but when you compare their progress with SpaceX’s achievements in spacecraft development, questions arise about the pace at which Boeing has been moving forward. Despite Boeing’s long-standing presence in the industry, their progress with the Starliner has been notably slower compared to the fast advancements made by a new comer, SpaceX.
Boeing is a giant in aerospace, with operations spanning from commercial airplanes to defense and space projects and has been in the industry for over a century. SpaceX, in contrast, was established in 2002 by Musk. Their notable achievements include the successful Crew Dragon missions to the international space station, which began with an uncrewed test in March 2019, followed by a crewed mission in May 2020.
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