Boeing’s Starliner capsule failed to enter its planned orbit today (December 20) after launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine was among those who broke the news, tweeting: “Starliner in stable orbit. The burn needed for a rendezvous with the ISS did not happen. Working the issue.”
Mr Bridentsine later provided more detail, adding: “Because #Starliner believed it was in an orbital insertion burn (or that the burn was complete), the dead bands were reduced and the spacecraft burned more fuel than anticipated to maintain precise control. This precluded @Space_Station rendezvous.”
Starliner in stable orbit. The burn needed for a rendezvous with the ISS did not happen. Working the issue
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
A NASA statement at 1.20pm GMT (8.20am ET) said: “Despite launching successfully at 6.36am EST Friday on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is not in its planned orbit.
“The spacecraft currently is in a stable configuration while flight controllers are troubleshooting.”
The test’s initial stage reportedly went to plan, with the Atlas V rocket launching from Florida just before dawn.
The rocket was scheduled to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS), where it was due to reach tomorrow.
However, Boeing announced the Starliner’s capsule’s insertion into orbit was abnormal only half an hour into its test mission.
Flight controllers are understood to be considering their options and insist the capsule is in a stable orbit.
The current whereabouts of the Boeing Starliner CST-100 are currently unknown after NASA cut the live feed of the test.
DON’T MISS
TESS satellite presents stunning new southern sky mosaic [VIDEO]
Life discovered deep underground points to ‘subterranean Galapagos’ [INTERVIEW]
Shadow land: ‘Alien life can exist in 2D universe’ [INTERVIEW]
READ MORE
-
Bizarre blinking space lights ‘could be evidence of ET’
Boeing’s Starliner capsule was unmanned, save for a test dummy named Rosie, wearing a polka-dot bandana and a blue spacesuit.
“She’s pretty tough. She’s going to take the hit for us,” said NASA’s Mike Fincke, one of three astronauts who are due to fly on the next Starliner mission.
It was hoped today’s test would lead to a flight with astronauts on board next year.
Also on board the Starliner were Christmas treats and presents for the six astronauts on the International Space Station, in addition to hundreds of seeds for science experiments.
The Boeing Starliner is the latest step in the competition with the SpaceX Crew Dragon, which had a successful launch in March this year.
The Elon Musk-owned SpaceX is scheduled to launch two astronauts into orbit in the spring.
An astronaut has not launched into space from US soil since July 2011, during space shuttle Atlantis’ final flight.
Astronauts have since then travelled to and from the ISS via Russia Soyuz capsules from Kazakhstan, costing NASA $86m (£65m) a time.
Express.co.uk has asked NASA for a comment about the current status of the Boeing Starliner.
Source: Read Full Article