The Boeing Starliner was able to return safely to Earth after its first visit to the International Space Station (ISS). The six-day Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 mission concluded when the spacecraft landed at the US Army’s White Sands Missile Range test site in New Mexico. With this feature, the Boeing Starliner is the first American capsule to land on land.
Boeing Starliner transported important equipment to the world!
Boeing Starliner, carrying more than 360 kilograms of equipment to the International Space Station, made a test flight without a crew. On the way back, Starliner brought more than 270 kilograms of cargo to the USA. Equipment returning to Earth includes reusable Nitrogen Oxygen Refill System tanks used to supply air to those on the ISS. Once these tanks are filled, they will be sent back to the ISS.
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The first test flight of the spacecraft took place in 2019. But on reaching orbit, an automation system problem prevented the thrusters from firing. As a result, the Starliner could not dock with the ISS on its first test flight. The second test flight, scheduled last year, was canceled due to a propulsion valve failure. With the problems resolved, the second test flight of the spacecraft was finally completed.
After evaluating the data from that flight, Boeing will begin planning crewed flights that will take the astronauts to the space station and bring them back to Earth. NASA is expected to announce the astronauts that will fly aboard Starliner this summer, and the mission is expected to take place before the end of 2022.
Mark Nappi, Boeing Commercial Crew Program vice president and program manager, said:
We’ve completed an excellent flight test of a complex system that we expect to learn lessons from along the way. There are new lessons to be learned with the completion of OFT-2. After that, we will continue to work to prepare for crewed flight testing and NASA certification. . Thank you to NASA and Boeing teammates who have given so much of themselves to Starliner.”
Boeing seems to lag behind SpaceX, which has made many manned flights to the ISS in this process. Let’s see if Boeing Starliner can close the gap in the coming days. So what do you think about Boeing Starliner and test flights? You can share your views with us in the comments section.