Cape Canaveral, FL, USA - June 6, 2024

Boeing's Starliner mission, a decade in the making, encountered unexpected hurdles en route to the International Space Station (ISS), as reported by NASA. Late Wednesday, the agency revealed via X (formerly Twitter) that two additional helium leaks were detected on the spacecraft, compounding challenges that arose prior to launch.

While one helium leak had been identified and deemed manageable before liftoff, the discovery of two new leaks prompted swift action from mission control. Despite these setbacks, two of the leaks have since been addressed, as confirmed during a live NASA broadcast on Thursday morning.

Notwithstanding the setbacks, Starliner remains on course to rendezvous with the ISS as scheduled. According to the ISS's official account on X, docking is expected at 12:15 p.m. ET, with NASA providing live coverage starting at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Mission managers reassured that the leaks are not anticipated to impede the docking process. Upon successful docking, the crew of astronauts Butch Willmore and Suni Williams will be warmly received by the seven cosmonauts and astronauts already aboard the station.

However, late-night developments presented new challenges for the crew. Just as Willmore and Williams prepared to rest, mission control instructed them to shut down two valves due to the newly discovered helium leaks. Despite the interruption to their sleep schedule, NASA and Boeing affirmed the crew's safety and continued to monitor the situation closely.

The historic launch of Starliner, the culmination of years of development, marked a milestone in NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Designed to rival SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, Starliner aims to expand options for ferrying astronauts to the ISS.