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, publicly urged NASA to halt Boeing's Starliner crewed flight test (CFT), citing safety concerns over an alleged "leaking valve" that caused a recent launch scrub.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) and NASA dismissed ValveTech's claims as inaccurate, stating the launch scrub was due to an oscillating pressure regulation valve on the Atlas V rocket, which has since been replaced, and that ValveTech's concerns are not applicable to this specific issue.
ValveTech's warning follows a prolonged legal dispute with a Starliner supplier (Aerojet Rocketdyne) over valve trade secrets, a background that adds context but is separate from the technical issue that scrubbed the most recent launch attempt.
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.
