Boeing Starliner Capsule's Maiden Crewed Test Flight Delayed Due to Atlas Rocket Issue

Boeing's Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight faces delay due to an Atlas rocket malfunction. The setback underscores the complexities of space missions and highlights the meticulous safety protocols in place. Stay tuned for updates on the rescheduled launch as Boeing addresses the technical issue.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, May 6 (Reuters) - 

NASA announced that the highly anticipated maiden crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is postponed until Friday. This delay follows the cancellation of the planned Monday launch due to an issue with the Atlas V rocket, responsible for transporting the capsule into orbit. Boeing's CST-100 Starliner's inaugural journey to the International Space Station, long-awaited and subject to numerous delays, underscores the company's efforts to compete with SpaceX for lucrative NASA contracts.

Two years following its initial test flight to the orbital laboratory sans crew, the gumdrop-shaped Starliner capsule is set for its next journey. The Starliner's prior uncrewed flight to the ISS in 2019 concluded unsuccessfully. Its most recent launch attempt was aborted with less than two hours remaining in the countdown at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, atop an Atlas V rocket provided by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

During a live NASA webcast, the delay was announced, attributed to a valve issue in the Atlas rocket's second stage. ULA CEO Tory Bruno explained that the valve, responsible for regulating fuel pressure crucial for propelling Starliner into orbit, had exhibited unusual sounds, prompting launch officials to enact stricter safety protocols for crewed missions and postpone the countdown.

After a ULA team conducted overnight tests on the valve and assessed the severity of the issue, the decision to postpone the flight to Friday was reached. The next potential launch windows were Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore, 61, and Sunita "Suni" Williams, 58, were strapped into their seats aboard the spacecraft for approximately an hour before launch operations were halted.

Following the suspension, technicians safely escorted astronauts Wilmore and Williams from the capsule to await a rescheduled launch attempt. Postponements in space missions, even due to minor issues, are routine. Boeing, under public scrutiny due to recent aviation setbacks, aims to demonstrate Starliner's success amid delays and cost overruns. While Boeing struggles, SpaceX dominates space transportation, with Crew Dragon serving as NASA's primary vehicle for crewed ISS missions since 2020.

SEASONED TEST FLIGHT CREW

The inaugural crewed flight of the Starliner includes two seasoned NASA astronauts, Wilmore and Williams, with a combined 500 days in space. Wilmore serves as commander, while Williams pilots the spacecraft. While Starliner is designed for autonomous flight, the astronauts are trained to take manual control if needed, practicing maneuvers en route to the ISS. Interestingly, this marks the first crewed voyage using an Atlas rocket since NASA's Mercury program in the 1960s. The capsule is expected to dock with the ISS after about 26 hours, where the current crew awaits their arrival.

Wilmore and Williams are slated to spend about a week at the space station before returning to Earth aboard the Starliner, which will employ a parachute and airbag system for landing in the U.S. Desert Southwest, a first for crewed NASA missions. Boeing faces scrutiny amidst ongoing challenges in its airplane business, making the success of Starliner crucial. Despite setbacks in development, NASA aims for redundancy with two U.S. rides to the ISS, encouraging private space station development. Pending the upcoming flight test outcome, Starliner is scheduled for at least six more crewed missions to the ISS for NASA.

Sourcw: Reuters