Two new helium leaks detected on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft en route to the International Space Station

Two new helium leaks were detected in flight on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, NASA said Thursday, June 6, which ensures that the craft “stay fixed”. This comes as the spacecraft is due to transport two NASA astronauts and dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday.

Starliner now has three leaks of helium, the gas of which is used for the ship’s propulsion system. One of them had been identified before the takeoff of this mission awaited for years, which took place on Wednesday from Florida. It was decided not to repair it. NASA, which describes it as “small”, considered that it did not represent any danger. The other two leaks are, “news since the ship arrived in orbit”NASA said on X. “Two of the affected helium valves have been closed.”

Thursday morning, NASA clarified that those responsible for the mission had met and given the green light for the spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station, still scheduled for 6:15 p.m. (Paris time). “They checked the condition of the vehicle and continue to monitor” the rate of leaks, she added.

Boeing must demonstrate during this test flight that Starliner is safe to begin regular operations. The empty spaceship has already reached the ISS once in 2022, but this is the first time it has carried astronauts. Butch Wilmore, 61, and Suni Williams, 58, have been training for several years for this mission. They have both been to the ISS twice in the past.