Sunday, November 10, 2024
Technology

Boeing Starliner’s crew flight test delayed

NASA is gearing up to send a duo of astronauts to space aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for the inaugural mission, but the launch didn’t happen as planned today. While the astronauts were getting ready, officials called off Monday night’s scheduled launch around 8:30 PM ET due to a technical issue involving a faulty oxygen relief valve on the ULA Atlas V rocket’s Centaur second stage. There’s a possibility for another launch attempt on Tuesday night, although it remains uncertain whether they can resolve the issue in time.

Starliner has encountered numerous setbacks over the years, including a failed uncrewed test flight in 2019, followed by a successful docking at the International Space Station in 2022. Originally slated for a crewed flight last May, the launch was postponed by NASA due to technical challenges.

The launch was set for 10:34 PM ET from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, and a livestream was accessible on NASA’s YouTube channel.

The United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket is tasked with propelling the Starliner spacecraft into space, where it will spend one week at the International Space Station (ISS). During this time, flight commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams will conduct tests to assess the Starliner’s capabilities, including launching, docking, and its eventual return to Earth.

Boeing constructed the Starliner under its $4.2 billion contract with NASA, a part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program aimed at fostering the development of new spacecraft by private companies.

Should this mission proceed smoothly, NASA will grant certification to the Starliner, permitting it to transport NASA astronauts to and from the ISS. This potential certification positions the Starliner as a new competitor to SpaceX, which has been conducting NASA crew missions since 2020.

Alongside streaming the flight on its YouTube channel, viewers can also tune in via NASA’s website, its apps, or its streaming platform, NASA Plus.

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