Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on June 6 after overcoming issues with its thrusters. The spacecraft docked with the station’s Harmony module, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on its first crewed flight. Despite a delay in docking due to thruster malfunctions, engineers managed to get most of the thrusters back online.
There were concerns about helium leaks in the propulsion system of Starliner, but mission managers decided to proceed with the docking by using extra helium to repressurize the system. A fourth helium leak was discovered after docking, raising questions about the root cause of these issues. However, with the spacecraft now docked, the leaks have been contained, and investigations will be carried out during its stay at the station.
Despite these challenges, officials remain optimistic about the mission’s success and view the problems as typical for early flights of new spacecraft. The astronauts on board, Wilmore and Williams, expressed satisfaction with the spacecraft’s performance and their overall experience. They praised the precision of manual maneuvers and the comfort of the suits developed for Starliner.
The mission is scheduled to last at least eight days, with additional tests planned during the extended stay at the station. While the thruster issues and helium leaks pose challenges, NASA and Boeing are confident in resolving these issues for future missions. Overall, the crewed test flight of Starliner is progressing well, marking another milestone in space exploration.