Updated 05.28 | Published 04.55
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Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams danced onto the ISS.
1 / 2 Photo: Nasa Via AP/TT
Boeing’s manned spacecraft Starliner has now docked at the International Space Station ISS. But the journey there was not without problems.
It took three attempts before the launch of Boeing’s Starliner was successful. Now astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally arrived at the ISS – after a problem-laden journey.
It started even before departure with a minor helium leak, something that according to Boeing and Nasa would not affect the trip. But just hours after launch, two more leaks occurred, and a fourth was found later after docking.
Helium is used to pressurize the fuel lines in the guidance rockets, which are important for maneuvering the craft.
In addition, five of the craft’s 28 guidance rockets broke. Williams and Wilmore managed to restart four of them, which provided enough of a margin of safety to continue. Then the Starliner had missed the first docking opportunity and was forced to circle the ISS for an extra hour.
– Wonderful to be connected to the great city in the sky, said Wilmore when the Starliner finally managed to dock.
The two astronauts then danced onto the ISS to music and embraced the seven astronauts on the space station.
According to Boeing, there should be enough helium for the Starliner to return home safely in about a week.