Source: TechWeb
On Monday (December 13), local time, Boeing announced that it plans to launch its Starliner to the International Space Station for unmanned test flights in May next year. Previously, Boeing investigated the valve failure and replaced the service module on the spacecraft. Following a failed flight in December 2019, Boeing's Starship was scheduled for a second unmanned flight test in December 2020, but the launch plan was delayed several times.
Most recently in August of this year, Boeing had to cancel test flights again and enter an in-depth inspection of the system due to multiple valve failures in the service bay.
Steve Stich, NASA's commercial manned program manager, said NASA partnered with Boeing to investigate service cabin valves to understand the cause of the problem, thanks to the cooperation between the two parties, they have a better understanding of the factors that caused the valve problem and how to prevent future recurrence.
It is reported that the Launch Window of the Boeing Starship in May will need to meet several conditions, including the space station is ready for the spacecraft's arrival, the United Launch Alliance can adapt to this schedule, and the spacecraft pass the launch review.
Starship will enter orbit on an Atlas V rocket produced by ULA, a 50 percent joint venture each owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Both Boeing and SpaceX were the winning bidders for NASA's commercial manned project, which began in 2010 when NASA decided to retire the space shuttle and needed to develop new space vehicles. NASA hopes to take a cost-effective, innovative and safe approach to getting astronauts in and out of the International Space Station. After layers of selection, NASA finally awarded the contract to SpaceX and Boeing.
SpaceX and Boeing could have been on a par with each other in the project, but with SpaceX successfully sending American astronauts into space in May 2020, Boeing became the trailing side in the race.