Safe return of the starliner: NASA breathes on despite engine problems

Safe return of the starliner: NASA breathes on despite engine problems

In an important development for space travel, NASA celebrated the safe return of the "Starliner" capsule, which has arrived on earth after a problematic space flight. The return comes after a complex stay in space, which was originally scheduled for eight days, but extended to three months. During this time there were several technical problems that complicated the mission. Steve Stitch, a NASA manager responsible for the mission, was relieved by the return and emphasized: "It is great that the 'Starliner' is back."

The problems began at the outward flight in June when five of the capsule of the engines overheat and failed. Lecks also led to uncontrolled helium loss, which ultimately influenced NASA's decision to recover the capsule vacant. While the capsule managed to land and the abdock process from the International Space Station (ISS) was flawless, there was some minor difficulties with one of the engines when entering the earth's atmosphere.

technical difficulties and security measures

Stitch said that one of the 28 engines did not work as intended when it was re -entered. Despite double communication channels, the engine did not react, which led to concern. However, the “Starliner” systems are designed in such a way that they work redundantly in such a case. This made it possible for engineers to use alternatives who solved the problem and guarantee a safe return.

The NASA team now looks at the next steps to improve the “Starliner” system. In order to avoid future complications, several adjustments are necessary, including the strengthening of seals and the improvement of the cooling systems to prevent the engines from overheating. The engineers continuously work on avoiding such problems in the future in order to strengthen trust in the capsule and their missions.

The next flight of the "Starliner" is now planned for August 2025, which represents a shift from the originally set date in February. Dana Weigel, the ISS manager, informed the press about these changes, but emphasized that NASA will continue to maintain cooperation with Boeing. In addition to Boeing, NASA also works with the SpaceX space company to support and optimize the missions for the ISS.