Space agency NASA and US aerospace company Boeing are currently studying the performance of the Starliner spacecraft’s engines before it returns to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). That comes from a Announcement from NASA on Thursday Outside.
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Engineers from both organizations recently conducted ground tests with the Starliner attitude control engine. The tests took place at NASA’s White Sands facility in New Mexico, the space agency said. Technicians simulated various scenarios that could occur when exiting the ISS and re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
According to NASA, initial results indicate a decrease in engine performance. This observation matches data from orbit. For more detailed analysis, engineers are now dismantling the tested engine.
Second engine test planned over the weekend
NASA and Boeing are planning a second engine test later this week, while Starliner is still docked with the ISS. NASA explains that technicians want to check for a possible helium leak and verify the function of the engines. The first test of this type took place on June 15.
NASA wants to check readiness to return to Earth as soon as next week. The authority announced that a specific date will be set for undocking the Starliner.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams support the mission on the ISS. They conduct scientific experiments and collect data for future long-term Starliner flights.
The current flight is a key test for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The goal of the program is to enable US companies to carry astronauts to the ISS.
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