Boeing ‘Space Taxi’ Tests Hit Snag
Boeing’s ongoing engine tests for its space taxi service have hit issues in the US desert testing site after anomalies were discovered.
The engines are being tested for the CST-100 Starliner, which takes passengers to and from the International Space Station (video below).
A statement from Boeing read as below: “In June, Boeing conducted a hot-fire test of the Launch Abort engines on an integrated service module at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, USA.
“The engines successfully ignited and ran for the full duration. During engine shutdown an anomaly occurred that resulted in a propellant leak.
“We have been conducting a thorough investigation with assistance from our NASA and industry partners. We are confident we found the cause and are moving forward with corrective action.
“Flight safety and risk mitigation is why we conduct such rigorous testing and anomalies are a natural part of any test program. We do not have any schedule updates at this time.”
Watch a video explaining how the Starliner service will work:
