Boeing and NASA were forced to cancel the first launch of the Starliner spacecraft with astronauts on board just minutes before liftoff, writes The Hill.
The Starliner, with NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, 58, and Barry Wilmore, 61, on board, was scheduled to lift off from the space station at Cape Canaveral on Saturday afternoon, but the launch was postponed until 3 minutes and 50 seconds remained until the end of the reverse.
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It is not yet known what caused the delay. NASA teams and Boeing and ULA companies participating in the launch should find out this, the space agency reported.
A valve issue forced the cancellation of the Starliner mission, which was supposed to launch on May 6, delaying the historic liftoff. The mission was once again delayed on May 14, this time because of extra testing and a leak of rocket fuel.
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If successful, the Starline test flight will bring Boeing closer to regular flights to and from the International Space Station. It provides that astronauts will be involved specifically in research on the physiological effects of space travel on humans. They have about 26 hours to reach the International Space Station, and they will stay there for about a week.
Boeing has several backup launch dates: June 2, 5, and 6. The company has not confirmed whether it will restart on Sunday. It depends on analyzing the data to determine what caused Saturday’s crash.
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The company has not confirmed whether it will restart on Sunday. It depends on analyzing the data to determine what caused Saturday’s crash.
Boeing has come under fire this year for a series of in-flight accidents.
