NASA contractor warns Boeing spacecraft to stop operating because of “risk of disaster”
After the Boeing Starliner’s maiden mission was delayed at the last minute earlier this week, a NASA contractor is warning the space agency that potentially disastrous problems may still be lurking in the Atlas V rocket .
NASA has delayed the first crewed mission in the Boeing Starliner on Monday, just two hours before the scheduled launch at Kennedy Space Center. On Wednesday, space agency contractor ValveTech publicly called for a delay in the launch until Starliner was deemed safe and warned of a potential disaster. A delay was ordered Replace the pressure regulator valve on the liquid oxygen tank of the Atlas V rocket. NASA will not attempt another launch until at least May 17.
NASA announced that Monday’s launch was postponed because of “oscillatory valve behavior during pre-launch operations.” During preparation, the valve was closed to reduce noise but it happened twice during fuel removal. ValveTech sees this fluctuating behavior as possibly a symptom of a larger problem. said ValveTech President Erin Faville in a release:
“As NASA’s valued partner and valve experts, we strongly urge them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster on the launch pad. According to media reports, a person passing by the Starliner noticed a buzzing sound indicating a leaking valve minutes before launch. This sound may indicate the valve has reached the end of its life.”
“NASA needs to double down on safety testing and re-examine safety protocols to ensure Starliner is safe before something catastrophic happens to astronauts and those on the ground.”
NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion Commercial Crew Transportation contract in September 2014, along with $2.6 billion to SpaceX. The first launch of the Starliner crew was originally scheduled for 2017. However, Development delays and technical issues has pushed back the launch until this month. The delay cost Boeing $1.5 billion in fees.
While Starline is struggling, the Atlas V rocket is a proven launch vehicle and has been in service since 2002. Atlas V was designed by Lockheed Martin and is currently manufactured by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The retiring rocket has just 17 launches remaining before being replaced by ULA’s Vulcan, the collaboration’s first new rocket design.
ValveTech’s concerns carry the weight of the idea that a disaster would endanger the lives of astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams as well as those on the ground. Boeing’s quality control problem would escalate to an astronomical scale far beyond the blown door plug on the Alaska Airlines flight, the planes were poorly built and two accusers have died.
