ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 8, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- NASA should immediately halt the Starliner launch
due to serious safety risks demonstrated by a leaking valve,
according to the professional opinion of ValveTech Inc. The launch
was scrubbed due to a leaking regulator valve in an oxygen tank,
yet NASA is considering trying another launch soon.
"As a valued NASA partner and as valve experts, we strongly urge
them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster
occurring on the launchpad," said ValveTech President Erin Faville. "According to media reports, a
buzzing sound indicating the leaking valve was noticed by someone
walking by the Starliner minutes before launch. This sound could
indicate that the valve has passed its lifecycle."
"NASA needs to re-double safety checks and re-examine safety
protocols to make sure the Starliner is safe before something
catastrophic happens to the astronauts and to the people on the
ground," Faville added.
An earlier issue with a valve
The valve leak at launch follows an issue with the Service
Module Propulsion system, which incorporates a valve from Boeing's
contractor, Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., (an L3 Harris Technologies
company). A federal court found Aerojet breached multiple
non-disclosure agreements for improperly disclosing, retaining, or
using ValveTech's valves, designs, technology and data.
Since the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
New York's November 2023 ruling, there seemingly has been no
change made to this Aerojet valve, which a witness at trial deemed
as being not qualified to the right specifications and not
evaluated to ensure safety protocols. ValveTech continues to
question how NASA, Boeing and Aerojet could have qualified this
valve for the mission without proper supporting data or previous
history or legacy information, which in its experience, goes
against aerospace-industry qualification protocols established by
NASA.
ValveTech supplies 14 valve components to vendors for the
Starliner CST-100 spacecraft, which is designed to carry humans and
scientific research to and from low-Earth orbit, including the
International Space Station.
About ValveTech Inc.
Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Phelps, N.Y., ValveTech (valvetech.net) is a
women-owned, and family operated business that designs and
manufactures valves and other components for aerospace and military
applications. ValveTech's products are used in the International
Space Station, James Webb Telescope, V-22 Osprey and other
demanding applications. ValveTech is ISO 9001-registered and
AS9100-certified.
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SOURCE Hastings Law Office, P.C.