After years of delays, Boeing has finally launched its first NASA mission carrying two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
At 10:52 ET (15:52 BST) on Wednesday, the Boeing CST-100 Starliner took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The shuttle, and astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are expected to arrive at 12:15 ET (17:15 BST) on Thursday after a 25-hour flight.
If successful, this test flight will give NASA a second commercial shuttle alongside the SpaceX Dragon and end Boeing’s run of failed launches.
But while the capsule has completed its initial tests, NASA now says the craft has sprung two unexpected helium leaks since entering orbit.
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Starliner was launched aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-V rocket, marking the first time that ULA has launched a crewed mission.
The rocket used its primary booster for just over four minutes to get Starliner into the air before jettisoning the bottom section and switching to a second stage.
After 12 minutes of burn-time to get the capsule into orbit, the rocket then detached, leaving Starliner to navigate using its own thrusters.
As part of the test flight, the crew also carried out around two hours of ‘free flight’ time to test the Starliner’s manual controls.
Starliner was spun around in orbit to test the solar panels, communications devices, and star trackers which are used for emergency navigation.
However, the capsule’s automatic navigation systems mean that Wilmore and Williams will now function largely as passengers for the majority of their flight.
After docking with the ISS and delivering 139 kg (307lbs) of supplies for NASA, the pair will spend a little more than a week aboard the station.
The capsule is scheduled to return to Earth in a remote desert area of the US on June 14.
But while the initial tests have been successful, NASA now reports that Starliner has developed three helium leaks.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, NASA wrote: ‘Teams have identified three helium leaks on the spacecraft.
One of these leaks had been identified on the ground but mission control determined that the shuttle was still safe to fly.
As the Wilmore and Williams were preparing to sleep, mission control told the astronauts that that it ‘looks like we picked up a couple more helium leaks.’
‘We are ready to…find out exactly what you mean by “picked up another helium leak”, so give it to us,’ Wilmore replied.
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However, mission control responded that they were ‘still getting the story together.’
NASA has since determined that the crew is safe and the astronauts continued to sleep as scheduled.
Boeing aerospace engineer Brandon Burroughs said on the NASA broadcast: ‘We have a lot of smart people down here on the ground that are going to take a look at this stuff and keep an eye on it, but the vehicle is in a configuration right now where they’re safe to fly.’
It is not clear whether these leaks will lead to any serious issues but it appears that Starliner is still on track to dock with the ISS later on Thursday.
The launch comes more than a decade since Boeing was first awarded the $4.2 billion contract to develop the Starliner capsule and seven years since its intended launch.
An attempt on May 6 was called off just two hours before launch due to an audible ‘buzzing’ caused by valve issues.
Another launch attempt last Saturday was halted with less than four minutes to go due to a technical glitch with a launchpad computer.
If the craft safely returns to Earth, this will mark a significant step forward for Boeing’s ambition in the commercial space sector and put pressure on rival SpaceX.
The launch’s success will also come as relief for NASA who are increasingly relying on commercial providers for travel into space.
After NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis was retired in 2011, the American space agency was forced to pay around $80m (£64m) for a seat in a Russian Soyuz capsule to reach the ISS.
But after 13 years, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) could finally have two different options to send astronauts to the ISS.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told a post-launch press conference that this was another milestone in this extraordinary history of NASA’.
Mr Nelson added: ‘With Dragon and Starliner, the US is going to have two unique human space transportation systems. We always like to have a backup that makes it safer for our astronauts.’
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In a brief speech moments before takeoff, Wilmore thanked those who had worked to make the mission possible and alluded to the project’s tumultuous progress.
He said: ‘We all know that when the going gets tough, and it often does, the tough get going, and Suni and I are honoured to share this dream of spaceflight with each and every one of you.’
NASA has already ordered six more astronaut rotation flights to the space station as part of the CCP.
The Starliner itself also represents significant advancements in shuttle technology.
Using a ‘weldless’ design the CST-100 (which stands for Crew Space Transportation) should reduce the risk of structural failure.
Although it will typically transport four passengers the Starliner can take up to seven astronauts and can be reused up to ten times with six months of refurbishment between flights.
Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, says: ‘Everyone is focused on giving Suni and Butch a safe, comfortable ride and performing a successful test mission from start to finish.’
Famous for manufacturing commercial airplanes, Boeing has been under heavy scrutiny in recent months after a chunk of fuselage blew out of one of its new 737s.
The firm has been blocked from increasing production of the plane as it addresses ongoing safety issues.
It seems some experts were concerned about Starliner too, as one NASA contractor has warned the mission could be ‘catastrophic’ on the basis that the craft has sprung a leak.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
