Darwin McDaniel
Boeing has completed testing of major components of the CST-100 Starliner propulsion system, allowing the company to move to the next phase of tests on the International Space Station.
The test at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico focused on the spacecraft’s in-space maneuvering and critical launch abort systems, the company said Friday.
Using a flight-like Starliner service module, Boeing fired its full propulsion system to simulate how it would move in space, a high-altitude abort and a low-altitude abort.
“With the safety of our astronauts at the forefront of all we do, this successful testing proves this system will work correctly and keep Starliner and the crew safe through all phases of flight,†said John Mulholland, vice president and program manager of Commercial Crew Program at Boeing.
He added completing the latest test allows the company to prepare for the next pad abort test as well as flights to and from the ISS scheduled later in 2019.
Boeing intends to offer Starliner to NASA and other organizations for commercial passenger flights that may bring astronauts, scientists as well as tourists to and from low-Earth orbit.
