After a day of travel between Cape Canaveral and theISSthe capsule Starliner was able to approach and then moor without major problems at the station. The test mission, which did not embarkastronautsgoing much better than the previous tests!
Back to Earth next week.
Maiden voyage (bis)
Slowly but surely… Until the last moment, Starliner let weigh the threat of its incredible misfortunes past on its mooring. And the silence of NASA and Boeing throughout the day of approach between the capsule and the International Space Station did not help.
There have been some problems, inherent in new equipment that had not hitherto tested its approach systems in orbit. For example, two maneuvering thrusters (out of 12) failed very early in the mission, and during the final approach to the station, two small RCS motors (which steer the capsule) in turn failed. There was also the capsule’s internal heating system, which was much less efficient than expected and which the engineers on the ground had to adjust.
A highly monitored approach
Concerns that can also be compared to the beginnings of Crew Dragon in orbit, but which did not cause any real concern about the mission for the Boeing teams. The mooring, although with a little delay, took place on May 21 at 2:28 a.m. (Paris) and went well. NASA and its supplier have tested several scenarios during the approach, at various distances from several hundred meters to a few meters, while always ensuring safety. They checked that the capsule, like the ISS, still had each other’s positions, and everything went well overall, 26 hours and 34 minutes after takeoff.
Now the capsule (and its only passenger, the dummy Rosie) is securely moored by the hatch and its 12 attachment points. During the post-maneuver briefing, NASA manager Kathy Lueders recalled that Starliner had successfully passed all the major stages of its flight (manoeuvres, approach, docking) and that the American agency was completely satisfied with its partner. . The Boeing official said the company would give due attention to the issues highlighted by the flight.
The outward journey is good, but the return…
The capsule should finally undocking a little earlier than initially planned, on May 25. This is due to some scheduling constraints for the work of the astronauts on board, as much as ground weather, as Starliner will touch down in the desert in New Mexico. On this occasion, it will embark equipment to be brought back from the ISS, in particular empty nitrogen tanks. Until then, there are still some tests to be carried out. The station’s astronauts will come on board this afternoon…
Source :CNN
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