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, is warning NASA to "immediately halt" Boeing's Starliner crewed flight test due to safety concerns, following a recent launch scrub caused by an oscillating pressure regulation valve on the Atlas V rocket.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) and NASA officials have dismissed ValveTech's specific claims regarding the recent valve issue, stating it was on the Atlas V rocket, not a Starliner component, and that the valve has been investigated and replaced.
ValveTech's warning stems from a prolonged legal dispute with Boeing supplier Aerojet Rocketdyne over alleged NDA breaches and misuse of trade secrets related to Starliner valve components, a context that ULA suggests influences ValveTech's public statements.
Despite these warnings, NASA and Boeing are proceeding with the Starliner launch, aiming to provide a redundant crew transport system to the ISS amidst significant program delays and budget overruns.
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.
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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.
