Setback for Boeing spacecraft: test flight from "Starliner" to the ISS failed

The test flight of a space capsule that the private aviation company Boeing developed for manned space missions by the US space agency Nasa failed. After launching from the Cape Canaveral spaceport, "Starliner" took the wrong course towards the International Space Station. This was announced by Boeing and NASA. Therefore, the unmanned capsule will not reach the ISS.

First, Nasa boss Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter that the capsule was in a stable orbit around the world. However, a drive failed that was necessary to reach the ISS. A software error could be responsible for this.

He later said that too much fuel had been burned due to problems. Therefore, it was not possible to dock with the ISS. According to NASA, the mission should now end after 48 hours with the landing on Earth.

Because #Starliner believed it was in an orbital insertion burn (or that the burn was complete), the dead bands were reduced and the spacecraft burned more fuel than anticipated to maintain precise control. This precluded @Space_Station rendezvous.

Actually, the spaceship should have docked 400 kilometers above the surface of the earth on Saturday for the first time. The return was scheduled for December 28th.

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The failed test flight is a setback for US efforts to become independent of Russian "Soyuz" missiles on manned space missions. In 2011, the US space agency had ended its own shuttle program after three decades. A strategy change was later initiated for a return to manned space travel with US space capsules: Instead of developing new shuttles, private companies were hired to do so.

Joel Kowsky / NASA / dpa

According to NASA, the mission should now end after 48 hours with the landing on Earth

Boeing and its competitor SpaceX subsequently received billions of dollars to develop manned spacecraft for US space travel. SpaceX successfully completed a test flight to the ISS in March with its "CrewDragon" space shuttle intended for manned missions. As was the case with the "Starliner", there was only a dummy on board, ie a dummy with sensors.