Boeing’s first crew set to launch, again!

Important equipment on board so astronauts don’t have to hold it

In a matter of hours Boeing may accomplish what it should have several years ago. The company’s Starliner spacecraft is back on the launchpad and at 12:25 pm EDT it is set to finally carry astronauts into space. Boeing, NASA, and the rocket company ULA are all saying they are, “go for launch,” after calling off an attempt in early May.

This will be a huge milestone for Boeing. It will also be good news for the International Space Station (ISS). There’s a problem up there when astronauts want to relieve themselves. That story in a moment.

“SMALL” HELIUM LEAK

First let’s talk about the latest delays and why NASA says they are ready to send two of their astronauts to low Earth orbit (LEO) on this spacecraft. On May 6th a problem valve on the rocket, not the capsule, forced a scrub of the mission. While the crews were shutting down and “safeing” the rocket and capsule, they noticed a leak in the service module. 

The second rollout of the Boeing Starliner capsule atop a ULA Atlas V rocket for the first crewed launch of the vehicle. (Credit: NASA)

While NASA didn’t explain for a couple weeks, there was a seal on a flange in the spacecraft’s service module that was leaking helium, which is used to pressurize the fuel tanks. NASA and Boeing took all that time to figure out workarounds and how much helium could leak before they would have a problem. They say that it is such a small leak they can launch and go to the ISS. The two astronauts were able to go to Houston and practice emergency scenarios if the helium becomes a problem.

Boeing seems ready to go and this is a huge launch for the company as we discussed here in early May. If all goes well, the mission will go down in Boeing and NASA history as another spacecraft successfully getting to space and completing its mission.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrive back at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, ahead of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. (Credit: NASA)

However, as of a few days ago, this mission could be remembered for another reason. It’s an issue a lot of people don’t like to talk about, even though they do it at least a couple times a day.

“URINE PROCESSING PUMP”

The ISS has a problem. The pee pump broke. It is part of the $23 million Universal Waste Management System, or in NASA lingo, the UWMS.

It would not make any sense for cargo spaceships to carry water to the ISS. They would have make weekly flights. There is no NASA “Culligan Man.” All the water on the ISS is recycled. Sweat is pulled out of the air and recycled. And yes, all the urine from the astronauts is collected and recycled into drinking water.

(Credit: NASA)

NASA calls it a “closed-loop system.” Urine is collected and then the “urine processing pump” pushes the liquid into the final purifying process. The “pee pump” was supposed to work until this fall. It failed early. Without the system working, ISS astronauts can store their urine. But NASA doesn’t want to hold all that urine on board.

CARGO CHANGE-OUT

So at the last minute, NASA decided to put a new pump on the Starliner as cargo so the ISS astronauts can start processing their pee again. This is not a small piece of equipment. It weighs 140 lbs and is in a bag that is three feet long and 20” x 20”. In order to get it on Starliner, NASA had to cut some cargo. Two “suitcases” carrying astronaut clothing were pulled off the spacecraft in the past several days to make room for the pump.

Now that may all seem a little cute, but through this effort NASA is proving the importance of the multiple contractors in the commercial crew program. The agency for years has wanted at least two providers to carry their astronauts to LEO. Now, NASA is using a test flight mission to help solve a serious problem on the ISS.

Weather is a 90% “go” for the 12:25 pm ET Saturday launch. NASA and Boeing are hoping this time they reach the call of, “ignition and liftoff.”