An Atlas V rocket with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, ready for another attempt at a test flight to the International Space Station. AP
An Atlas V rocket with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, ready for another attempt at a test flight to the International Space Station. AP
An Atlas V rocket with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, ready for another attempt at a test flight to the International Space Station. AP
An Atlas V rocket with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, ready for another attempt at a test flight to the International Space Station. AP

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Boeing's Starliner test flight to the ISS delayed again

Second orbital test flight postponed after engineers discover technical faults

Arthur Scott-Geddes
Arthur Scott-Geddes

August 02, 2021

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Boeing postponed its Starliner capsule's second flight to the International Space Station on Tuesday, days after an earlier launch was delayed when the orbital outpost experienced difficulties caused by its new Russian module.

"We're confirming today's Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 launch is scrubbed," Boeing said on Twitter.

During pre-flight preparations, Boeing engineers discovered that valves in the spacecraft's propulsion system were in "unexpected" positions, the company said.

“We’re disappointed with today’s outcome and the need to reschedule our Starliner launch,” said John Vollmer, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program.

“Human spaceflight is a complex, precise and unforgiving endeavour, and Boeing and Nasa teams will take the time they need to ensure the safety and integrity of the spacecraft and the achievement of our mission objectives.”

The highly-anticipated test flight is a significant milestone for Boeing’s troubled human spaceflight programme.

A previous uncrewed Starliner orbital flight in 2019 ended with a nearly catastrophic failure of the spacecraft to dock with the space station.

The US aviation company, which has had a hand in almost every Nasa mission since the start of space exploration, is competing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in Nasa's Commercial Crew Programme.

SpaceX has now delivered 10 astronauts to the ISS, with Boeing yet to fly its capsule with a human crew on board.

The capsule is designed to deliver astronauts and cargo to the ISS. Reuters
The capsule is designed to deliver astronauts and cargo to the ISS. Reuters

Tuesday's postponement was the second in a matter of days. The capsule was sitting on top of a United Launch Alliance Atlas rocket ready to blast off on Thursday last week when the launch was halted.

Cosmonauts on the space station told mission control in Moscow they were having difficulties with the newly arrived Nauka module hours after it had docked with the ISS.

"Nasa and Boeing have decided to stand down from Friday's launch attempt of the agency's Orbital Flight Test-2 mission," Nasa said in a statement posted online, and added that launch teams were assessing the next available launch opportunity.

"The move allows the International Space Station team time to continue checkouts of the newly arrived Roscosmos Nauka module to ensure the station will be ready for Starliner's arrival," the US space agency added.


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  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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