NASA, Boeing Complete Starliner Engine Tests – What’s Next for the Troubled Aircraft?

The Boeing Starliner is docked at the International Space Station

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft that launched NASA’s Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station is pictured parked in the forward port of the Harmony module. This long-term photo was taken at night from the orbital station as it flew 256 kilometers above the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, India. Credit: NASA

Engineers are NASA and Boeing are reviewing the latest engine tests to ensure the safe return of the Boeing Crew Flight Test. At the same time, ISS scientists conduct health and scientific experiments, which contribute to our understanding of the effects of space on human physiology and material science.

NASA and Boeing engineers are reviewing the results of last week’s engine tests at NASA’s White Sands Test Center in New Mexico as the team works on plans to return the Boeing Crew test flight. International Space Station in the coming weeks.

Teams have completed a hot-fire test on the ground at White Sands and are working to review test data and test engine testing. The ongoing fundamental analysis is expected to continue throughout the week. Working with a reaction controller designed for the future Starliner spacecraft, ground teams fired the engine in conditions similar to those encountered by the spacecraft on its way to space. The ground tests also included the firing of stress conditions, and repeated conditions the Starliner attackers will experience from undocking to deorbit burn, where the attackers will burn to reduce the speed of the Starliner to take it out of the way to reach the southwestern United States.

For more information on the test plans, listen to a transcript of a recent press conference with NASA and Boeing leadership:

“I’m very proud of the NASA, Boeing team for their hard work on a series of complex experiments,” said Steve Stich, director, NASA’s Commercial Personnel Program. “We’ve collected an incredible amount of data that will help us better understand what’s going on in the plane. Next, our team is involved in engine breakdowns and analyzes that will provide more insight as we analyze the results and to assess the next steps.”

Preparing for the Starliner’s Return to Earth

Joint ground teams are also preparing for the Agency’s Advanced Flight Readiness Test, which will assess aspects of the spacecraft’s system performance before it returns to Earth. The date of the center’s inspection has not been confirmed.

NASA and Boeing leadership plan to discuss the testing and evaluation work in detail during a press conference next week. More details about the conversation will be available soon.

Boeing Crew Flight Test Manager Butch Wilmore

NASA astronaut and Boeing Crew Flight Test Commander Butch Wilmore works in the Fluid Systems Servicer that drains, cleans, and moves fluids in systems aboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

Astronaut Activities and Research on the ISS

While testing and testing was taking place on Earth, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, the Starliner mission commander, and Suni Williams, the mission pilot, worked with the Expedition 71 crew. The two participated in the nerve tests. they use the Ultrasound device 2 on Monday. Doctors on the floor monitored in real time as the pair took turns to think about the neck, shoulders and leg veins. Next, Wilmore examined the nerves of fellow NASA scientist Matthew Dominick, helping researchers understand how microgravity affects the human body.

Wilmore and Dominick also spent part of the day cataloging the food stored on the space station. Williams worked on two subjects, first exploring the use of microgravity to create high-quality fibers on Earth. Williams also researches using fluid physics, such as surface tension, to overcome the lack of gravity when watering and feeding plants growing in space.


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