Boeing has been dealt one other setback in its path in the direction of utilizing Starliner to place people into house. The subsequent test flight for the Starliner crew capsule has been delayed no sooner than April 2. The delay comes on the heels of avionics within the capsule being changed resulting from an influence surge during a earlier test.
The test would be the second Orbital Flight Test mission supposed to confirm that the spacecraft is able to carry astronauts into orbit later this yr. Boeing and NASA issued a joint assertion final week stating that the mission had been rescheduled from March 25 to no sooner than April 2. That is a delay of eight days, and the assertion famous it was resulting from an influence surge during closing checkouts within the spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Technicians have been capable of efficiently swap avionics impacted by the facility surge. Boeing says it continues to make sure its spacecraft’s security and handle rising points in a well timed method. NASA spoke straight concerning the energy surge and its causes, stating that it resulted from a “ground support equipment configuration issue.”
Boeing and NASA have been steadily transferring ahead, getting ready the spacecraft for its final official test flight earlier than it carries astronauts. Last month, the Starliner crew module and repair module have been mated collectively. The spacecraft was additionally positioned into a unique space of the power so it may be loaded with propellants.
Boeing can also be gearing up for a test of the Starliner flight {hardware} and software program. That might be a complete test simulating an entire Starliner mission from launch to docking with the ISS. The simulation can even embrace undocking by touchdown. Orbital Flight Test 2 is a repeat of the unique test performed in December 2019, which skilled a software program downside stopping the capsule from docking with the ISS. Since it was unable to dock with the house station, the spacecraft needed to return to Earth prematurely.