Rocket issue pushes 1st astronaut launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule to May 10
- by Space.com
- May 07, 2024
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Boeing's Starliner capsule sits atop its United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket ahead of the planned launch of the Crew Flight Test astronaut mission.
(Image credit: ULA)
The first crewed flight of Boeing's new Starliner capsule has been pushed to the end of the week due to a technical issue.
Starliner was supposed to launch late Monday night (May 6) on Crew Flight Test (CFT), a roughly 10-day mission that will carry two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and back. But mission teams called the attempt off about two hours before Monday's planned liftoff, after identifying a faulty "oxygen relief valve" on the upper stage of Starliner's rocket ride, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V.
NASA, ULA and Boeing initially expressed optimism that the issue could be resolved quickly, perhaps even in time for another launch attempt on Tuesday night (May 7). But, early Tuesday morning, the teams announced that CFT will lift off no earlier than Friday night (May 10).
"The delay allows teams to complete data analysis on a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank of the Atlas V rocket's Centaur upper stage and determine whether it is necessary to replace the valve," NASA officials wrote in an update on Tuesday.
A launch on Friday would occur at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT on May 11). There's an additional backup opportunity on Saturday (May 11), NASA officials said. Whenever CFT launches, you can watch the action here at Space.com.
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