> ScienceA NASA partner is advising the agency to stop Boeing's debut crewed Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The warning comes two days after NASA scrubbed the launch of Boeing's Starliner mission due to a faulty valve on the United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
The Atlas V rocket at the launch pad.
The Atlas V has been rolled back to the Vehicle Integration Facility in Florida's Cape Canaveral where engineers will replace the faulty valve.
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> Science
A NASA partner is advising the agency to stop Boeing's debut crewed Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS). ValveTech, a key collaborator of the US space agency, claims that there are serious safety issues which could lead to disaster on the launch pad.
The warning comes two days after NASA scrubbed the launch of Boeing's Starliner mission due to a faulty valve on the United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V rocket. In an update, the agency said that it will attempt to launch again on May 18.
The Starliner spacecraft. Image: Boeing
Boeing is sending two astronauts - Sunita Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore - to test Starliner's readiness for a crewed mission. If successful, NASA will avail Starliner's services to launch cargo and crew to the space station.
"As a valued NASA partner and as valve experts, we strongly urge them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster occurring on the launchpad," ValveTech President Erin Faville said in an official statement.
The Atlas V rocket at the launch pad. Image: Boeing
He cited media reports about the leaky valve which was noticed by "someone walking by the Starliner minutes before launch."
This claim is a bit confusing because the launch was scrubbed two hours before the scheduled lift off at 8:04 am IST. However, there was indeed an issue with the valve as it reportedly was "buzzing" while opening and closing rapidly during launch countdown.
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"NASA needs to re-double safety checks and re-examine safety protocols to make sure the Starliner is safe before something catastrophic happens to the astronauts and to the people on the ground," he further said.
It is worth noting that the launch was called off not because of a faulty Starliner but a malfunctioning valve of the liquid oxygen tank on Atlas rocket's upper stage.
Rocket company pushes back
ULA's CEO Tory Bruno completely dismissed the concerns saying none of Faville's statements are correct.
Thanks.
Not sure what to say about this one. Close to none of it is correct: Not urgent. Not leaking. Etc. Remarkable that the particular person quoted doesn't seem to know how this type of valve works... — Tory Bruno (@torybruno) May 9, 2024
"Not sure what to say about this one. Close to none of it is correct: Not urgent. Not leaking. Etc. Remarkable that the particular person quoted doesn't seem to know how this type of valve works (sic)," he said in a post on X.
The Atlas V has been rolled back to the Vehicle Integration Facility in Florida's Cape Canaveral where engineers will replace the faulty valve.
ALSO SEE: NASA Delays Boeing's Debut Crew Launch To May 18 After Rocket Malfunction
