NASA announced on Tuesday that the highly anticipated first crewed test flight of Boeing Co's Starliner spacecraft would face a delay of at least 10 days due to the need to replace a faulty pressure valve on the Atlas V rocket carrying the capsule. The new targeted launch date for this pivotal mission, critical for Boeing's efforts to secure a larger share of NASA's spaceflight contracts, is now set for May 17 at the earliest.
Originally scheduled for liftoff on Monday night from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the launch was halted less than two hours before the planned blastoff due to a malfunction in a pressure regulation valve on the rocket's upper-stage liquid oxygen tank. This valve issue prompted the decision to roll back the rocket to its hangar for repairs and replacements, a process that will require additional time.
The Atlas V rocket, provided and operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is separate from the Starliner capsule. Once launched, the Starliner and its two-astronaut crew will dock with the International Space Station (ISS) for about a week before returning to Earth.
Selected to pilot the Starliner's maiden crewed flight are NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, both seasoned spacefarers. Despite the setback, the teams at NASA, Boeing, and ULA are determined to proceed with the launch as soon as possible, with initial plans aiming for a potential retry on May 10. However, the need to replace the pressure valve has pushed the launch date back by at least another week.
Boeing's Starliner program has faced challenges and setbacks, including a failed uncrewed flight to the ISS in 2019. The company is under pressure to demonstrate success in its space ventures, especially in light of recent safety issues in its commercial airplane operations.
In contrast, SpaceX, NASA's other commercial partner, has enjoyed success with its Crew Dragon spacecraft, ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS reliably. As Boeing works to overcome obstacles and advance its space program, the competition in the commercial spaceflight industry continues to intensify, with both companies vying for NASA contracts and positioning themselves for future missions to the moon and beyond.