Whats up and welcome again to TechCrunch Area. For many who haven’t heard, the primary crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule has been pushed again but once more to no sooner than Could 25.
From NASA: “The additional time allows teams to further assess a small helium leak in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft’s service module traced to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster.”
Higher protected than sorry, in fact, however I can’t say I’m not desperate to see this very, very costly, very delayed capsule fly.
Scheduling observe: TechCrunch Area shall be off on Could 27 in observance of Memorial Day. I’ll see you again right here June 3.
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This isn’t big information or something, however I assumed it was actually cool that Intuitive Machines mainly confirmed that it has been in dialog with NASA over how the corporate might use its tech to assist the Mars Pattern Return (MSR) mission. MSR has been battling ballooning prices and a very complicated structure, and it’s precisely the kind of high-risk, high-reward mission that personal trade might excel at executing.
What we’re studying
“What we’re reading” is as soon as once more “what we’re watching.” This week, I need to extremely suggest this interview with engineer and economist Sinéad O’Sullivan. She has a…bearish…tackle the area trade, however I believe it’s required listening for people who might possibly profit from a actuality verify.
This week in area historical past
It feels a bit merciless to carry this up in the identical situation that I point out one other Starliner delay, BUT 12 years in the past on Could 22 SpaceX launched its second test-flight of its cargo Dragon spacecraft. (Hey! Starliner is crewed! It’s completely different!) SpaceX has now accomplished 9 cargo missions to the Worldwide Area Station.
