Boeing Starliner suffered helium leaks before historic space station docking

Boeing's Starliner capsule suffered from persistent helium leaks as it approached the International Space Station on Thursday (June 6). But the capsule, pioneering in its own right, docked with the space station nonetheless.

Boeing Starliner docking issues: What were they?

First of all, NASA engineers detected a problem with reaction control thrusters essential to the high-precision docking maneuver.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

This was overcome by a "hotfire" test following which at least four of the thrusters were reactivated and Starliner made an autonomous docking with the International Space Station.

Boeing Starliner at International Space Station: Why is it historic?

This isthe first time that two US-built crewed spacecraft were simultaneously anchored to the International Space Station. Starliner capsule had SpaceX's Dragon capsule attached to a port on the opposite side.

The Starliner mission is the first time the spacecraft has carried a crew to space. The two crew members, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, are expected to spend eight days with the seven astronauts and cosmonauts already on boardthe ISS.

Also watch |Gravitas: Boeing's new whistleblowers reveal scary secrets

The current mission, a crew flight test, is the product of a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon capsule and is operating under NASA's commercial crew programme.

Helium's role in spacecraft routes

Helium is an inert gas. That is, it does not react with other elements in and beyond our atmosphere. The inert gas is used to power thrusters in the capsule that was carried over a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that blasted off on Wednesday (June 5).

Boeing Starliner helium leak

Even before the launch, engineers had discovered a small but continuous helium leak that was deemed acceptable.

Later, NASA said that two latest helium leaks were discovered after the spacecraft arrived in orbit.

“Two of the affected helium valves have been closed and the spacecraft remains stable”, the agency said in a post on X.

The development related to helium leaks first emerged whenastronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams were about to sleep and mission control on Earth informed them that they needed to shut down two valves.

"Looks like we picked up a couple more helium leaks," mission control said. Wilmore responded: "We are ready to … find out exactly what you mean by picked up another helium leak, so give it to us."

"Butch, I’m sorry. We’re still getting the story together," mission control replied.

"We have some issues to watch overnight when in regards to the helium leaks that was just brought up, and 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," the Boeing aerospace engineer Brandon Burroughs said on the NASA broadcast, CBS News reported.

(With inputs from agencies)