Boeing Starliner's Extended Stay at ISS: Assessing Helium Leaks and Thruster Issues

Cape Canaveral, Florida United States of America
Boeing Starliner spacecraft docked at ISS on June 5, 2024
Extended stay at ISS to investigate helium leaks and thruster issues
Five known helium leaks in Starliner's propulsion system
NASA aims to fully eliminate both helium leaks and thruster issues before Starliner flies again
One jet will not be used for the remainder of the flight, other suspect thrusters successfully 'hot fired'
Starliner faced delays before launch due to parachute system redesign and earlier test flight issues
Unexpected behavior in multiple maneuvering jets
Boeing Starliner's Extended Stay at ISS: Assessing Helium Leaks and Thruster Issues

Boeing Starliner's Mission Extension at International Space Station: Assessing Helium Leaks and Thruster Issues

Updated on: June 18, 2024 / 5:52 PM EDT

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5, will remain there for an extended period to allow NASA and Boeing engineers to further investigate helium leaks and thruster issues. The mission extension was announced on June 18 by NASA following a press briefing.

The Starliner spacecraft, commanded by Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and co-piloted by Sunita Williams, is currently providing valuable assistance to the ISS crew while ground teams continue their analysis of the ongoing issues. The extended stay will give them more time to help out aboard the station.

Five known helium leaks in Starliner's propulsion system and unexpected behavior in multiple maneuvering jets are being assessed by NASA and Boeing engineers. One jet will not be used for the remainder of the flight, but the other suspect thrusters were successfully 'hot fired' during a test on June 18.

NASA intends to fully eliminate both helium leaks and thruster issues before Starliner flies again. The extended mission is expected to last until June 26, with a pre-dawn landing at White Sands, New Mexico.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft faced delays even before its launch due to the need to redesign the parachute system and issues with helium leaks and thruster failures during an earlier test flight without anyone on board. The mission extension is another setback for Boeing, which aims to provide regular crewed flights to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

The extended stay at the ISS will give Starliner more time in space, allowing engineers to gather valuable data and make any necessary adjustments before its return. The mission extension is a crucial step towards ensuring the safety and reliability of future Starliner flights.


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Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

NASA, Boeing delay Starliner astronaut landing to June 26 amid thruster issues

Space.com Elizabeth Howell Tuesday, 18 June 2024 19:18
  • Unique Points
    • NASA announced that Boeing's Starliner will conclude its first human mission to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than June 26, 2024.
    • Starliner’s return to Earth will be delayed due to thruster troubleshooting and a scheduled spacewalk.
    • Landing is scheduled to occur at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 4:51 a.m. EDT (0851 GMT) on June 26, 2024.
    • Five of Starliner’s 28 reaction control thrusters failed during the final phase of the ISS rendezvous on June 6, though four of them eventually came back online.
    • Boeing and NASA ground team members performed a thruster hot-fire test over the weekend alongside the astronauts and everyone feels very confident.
  • Accuracy
    • Starliner's return to Earth will be delayed due to thruster troubleshooting and a scheduled spacewalk.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    No fallacies found in the author's statements. However, there are some instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The inflammatory rhetoric is seen in phrases like 'thruster troubleshooting' and 'a scheduled spacewalk', which are not strictly fallacies but can create a sense of urgency or danger without necessary evidence.
    • ]The return to Earth of Boeing's Starliner capsule will be delayed a few more days due to thruster troubleshooting and a scheduled spacewalk.[
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Boeing Starliner departure from space station remains delayed due to 'complicated' issues

Fox Weather Analysis Powered by Fox News Network LLC Emilee Speck Tuesday, 18 June 2024 23:36
  • Unique Points
    • Boeing Starliner's first astronaut crew will spend an additional week in orbit as ground teams complete more data reviews of ongoing issues with the spacecraft.
    • Despite extending their mission more than twice the original timeline, the astronauts are in good spirits.
    • Over the weekend, teams completed a hot fire of the Starliner spacecraft’s thrusters with the vehicle docked at the ISS to troubleshoot the issues encountered during docking when five thrusters failed.
  • Accuracy
    • Starliner suffered a series of helium leaks in its propulsion system and five of its thrusters failed during the test flight.
    • The return home is now scheduled for June 26, instead of the previously scheduled June 22 target.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

NASA delays return of Boeing Starliner spacecraft to June 26

The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Christian Davenport Tuesday, 18 June 2024 19:30
  • Unique Points
    • Boeing had to redesign the parachute system for Starliner after an earlier test flight without anyone on board.
    • Starliner suffered a series of helium leaks in its propulsion system and five of its thrusters failed during the test flight.
  • Accuracy
    • Boeing's Starliner spacecraft was initially scheduled for a June 18 return but has been delayed to June 26.
    • Five of Starliner’s 28 reaction control thrusters failed during the final phase of the ISS rendezvous on June 6, though four of them eventually came back online.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Boeing’s Crewed Starliner Mission Delays Return From Space to June 26

Bloomberg News Now Loren Grush Tuesday, 18 June 2024 23:39
  • Unique Points
    • Boeing and NASA pushed back the return home of two astronauts from the International Space Station by four days.
    • The return home is now scheduled for June 26, instead of the previously scheduled June 22 target.
  • Accuracy
    • Starliner's return to Earth will be delayed due to thruster troubleshooting and a scheduled spacewalk.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

NASA extends Starliner stay at space station to further assess helium leaks and thruster issues

CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ William Harwood Tuesday, 18 June 2024 23:40
  • Unique Points
    • Starliner commander Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams will remain on ISS for an additional four days
    • Five known helium leaks in the capsule’s propulsion system and unexpected behavior in multiple maneuvering jets are being assessed
    • One jet will not be used for the remainder of the flight, but the other suspect thrusters were successfully ‘hot fired’ during a test on June 18
    • NASA intends to fully eliminate both helium leaks and thruster issues before Starliner flies again
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication