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"Starliner" capsule on an "Atlas V" rocket
Photo: Terry Renna / AP
Actually, Boeing wanted to fly astronauts to the ISS with the "Starliner" spaceship in front of "SpaceX" from Tesla founder Elon Musk.
But nothing came of it.
The aircraft manufacturer's capsule caused a real series of breakdowns - while “SpaceX” is already flying into space in series.
The last time a "Starliner" test flight was postponed in August.
And in December 2019 a flight had to be canceled due to tax problems.
Boeing is now postponing further test flights right into the coming year.
One is currently planning for "sometime in the first half of 2022," said Boeing manager John Vollmer on Tuesday at a press conference.
The obligations towards the US space agency Nasa should, however, be adhered to.
The »Starliner« should actually have started unmanned for the ISS at the end of July.
But because of a valve problem, the capsule had to be taken to the workshop.
Several valves are currently still being investigated, Boeing said.
"It's a complex problem that we have to work through," said Boeing engineer Michelle Parker.
The unmanned test flights are only intended to create the prerequisites for the actual mission for which NASA had commissioned the company: But the "Starliner" is still a long way from the goal of getting astronauts onto the International Space Station.
After the disaster surrounding the Boing 737 Max, the world's largest aerospace company is not doing well with its all-round program.
Mason flies with Musk
In a few days, the German astronaut Matthias Maurer will fly to the ISS in the “Crew Dragon” from “SpaceX”.
The launch is now scheduled for October 31 from the Cape Canaveral spaceport in Florida and was last postponed by one day.
The 51-year-old bricklayer would be the twelfth German in space - and the fourth German on the ISS.
Together with NASA astronauts Thomas Marshburn, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron, the astronaut from Saarland forms the »Crew-3«.
The four astronauts have been in quarantine since Saturday.
It should last around two weeks and ensure your health and that of your colleagues who are already on the ISS.
joe / dpa
