During a previous test in 2019, Starliner failed to reach its proper orbit owing to a software automation glitch that caused it to perform an unnecessary orbital insertion burn.
But despite a propulsion problem experienced during yesterday’s orbital insertion, Starliner is still on track to meet up with the ISS at the expected time.
The current mission, Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2), is a critical step towards certifying Starliner as an astronaut-friendly spacecraft.Once it gets close to the station, the spacecraft will pause prior to entering the 656-foot (200-meter) “keep out sphere,” during which time flight controllers will assess Starliner’s alignment and readiness for docking, according to the mission profile.