ULA Pushes Back on Warning to NASA to Halt Boeing Starliner Launch
A former contractor of Boeing valve supplier Aerojet Rocketdyne is urging the space agency to “redouble” safety checks before attempting another launch.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule docks with the International Space Station for the first time during an uncrewed flight test in May 2022. [Courtesy: Boeing]
Key Takeaways:
ValveTech, a former supplier, has publicly warned NASA to "immediately halt" Boeing's Starliner crewed flight test, citing unverified safety concerns about a "leaking valve" related to a recent launch scrub.
NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have rejected ValveTech's claims, clarifying that the previous scrub was due to an oscillating pressure regulation valve on the Atlas V rocket, which has since been replaced, and not a leak, also noting ValveTech's concerns relate to a different system.
The Starliner program, already several years behind schedule and significantly over budget, is pushing forward with the launch, aiming to provide NASA with a critical redundant crew transport system to the International Space Station.
There’s a new layer to the prelaunch buzz surrounding the inaugural crewed flight test (CFT) of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
ValveTech, a manufacturer previously hired by Boeing supplier Aerojet Rocketdyne to build valves for Starliner’s propulsion system, is warning NASA to “immediately halt” the spacecraft’s first crewed launch, which may come as early as Friday.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
