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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Science
Edward Helmore and Richard Luscombe

Boeing Starliner capsule docks with space station despite helium leaks

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft prepares to dock with the International Space Station for the first time on Thursday.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft prepares to dock with the International Space Station for the first time on Thursday. Photograph: AP

Boeing’s pioneering Starliner capsule and its two astronauts overcame a technical hiccup to finally dock with the international space station on Thursday, as Nasa continued to monitor two separate helium leaks that have concerned mission managers.

A first attempt at the rendezvous was called off when engineers at the US space agency detected a problem with reaction control thrusters essential to the high-precision docking maneuver.

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