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 urged NASA to "immediately halt" Boeing's Starliner crewed flight test, citing unaddressed safety concerns, particularly regarding a "leaking valve" that allegedly caused a recent launch scrub and a need for "redoubled safety checks."
NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have dismissed ValveTech's claims as inaccurate, stating the previous scrub was due to an "oscillating pressure regulation valve" on the Atlas V rocket, which has been investigated and replaced, and that ValveTech's concerns are not applicable to this specific issue.
ValveTech's intervention comes amidst a long-standing legal dispute with Boeing supplier Aerojet Rocketdyne over intellectual property for Starliner valve components, where Aerojet was previously found to have breached non-disclosure agreements.
Despite ValveTech's warnings, NASA and Boeing are likely to proceed with the Starliner launch due to significant program delays, cost overruns, and the strategic importance of establishing Starliner as a redundant crew transport option 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.
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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.
