Moscow. August 13. INTERFAX.RU – The problems that caused the transfer of the launch of the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) are probably caused by corrosion of the valves caused by the leakage of an oxidizer, a Boeing spokesman said during a briefing.
“The oxidant has entered the valve when the oxidant interacts with moisture, this moisture on the valve, we think their interaction has caused corrosion by blocking the valves,” he said.
During the briefing, company representatives also said that they do not believe in the version with moisture ingress during the rain on August 3 before the proposed launch, but they do not deny that high humidity could be one of the causes of corrosion.
Boeing has found problems with 13 oxidizer valves in Starliner engines, according to Boeing.
At the moment, specialists, through thermal and electrical procedures, have been able to restore the work of nine of them.
Boeing is conducting a joint investigation with NASA and the manufacturer of liquid propellant rocket engines Aerojet Rocketdyne.
