Boeing's first astronaut flight called off at the last minute in latest setback (2024)

Mission managers say last-minute computer trouble has nixed the latest launch attempt for Boeing’s first astronaut flight

By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer
Jun 1, 2024
Jun 1, 2024 Updated 8 hrs ago
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Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits on the launch pad during sunrise at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard the rocket to the International Space Station, scheduled for liftoff later Saturday.

Chris O'Meara - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chris O'Meara - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boeing's Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket stands ready at Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a mission to the International Space Station, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch is scheduled for June 1.

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Friday, May 31, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard the rocket to the International Space Station, scheduled for liftoff on June 1.

Chris O'Meara - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams share a laugh as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams waves as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore talk to family members as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 after being scrubbed Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Chris O'Meara - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, riding in the astro van, drive by the Vehicle Assembly Building on the way back to the operations and checkout building after the launch was scrubbed Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Chris O'Meara - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, speaks during a news conference after the launch of Boeing's Starliner Atlas V rocket was scrubbed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a mission to the International Space Station, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tory Bruno, right, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, speaks during a news conference with Steve Stich, left, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, and Mark Nappi, center, vice president and program manager of the Commercial Crew Program for Boeing, after the launch of Boeing's Starliner Atlas V rocket was scrubbed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a mission to the International Space Station, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

John Raoux - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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FAQs

Boeing's first astronaut flight called off at the last minute in latest setback? ›

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits on the launch pad

launch pad

A launch pad is an above-ground facility from which a rocket-powered missile or space vehicle is vertically launched. The term launch pad can be used to describe just the central launch platform (mobile launcher platform), or the entire complex (launch complex).

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Launch_pad

Launch pad - Wikipedia

at Space Launch Complex 41 after being scrubbed Saturday at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Last-minute computer trouble nixed Saturday's launch attempt for Boeing's first astronaut flight, the latest in a string of delays over the years.

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Why is Starliner delayed? ›

Why was the Starliner return trip postponed? NASA wants more time to analyze problems in the spacecraft's propulsion system, which is used to maneuver in flight. The propulsion system is attached to the capsule, but it doesn't come back to Earth for inspection. It is ditched during reentry and burns up.

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Where is the Starliner? ›

Boeing's leak-prone Starliner capsule will remain docked to the International Space Station for an additional four days, NASA announced Tuesday, returning to Earth with a pre-dawn landing at White Sands, New Mexico, on June 26 to close out an extended 20-day test flight — the first with astronauts aboard.

What went wrong with Boeing Starliner? ›

Officials suspect that heat from all the thruster action at docking caused the shutdown. The one faulty thruster has been turned off and is not an issue for the return trip, Boeing said. The capsule launched June 5 with one small helium leak, but four more leaks sprung up by the time it reached the space station.

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Does Starliner have a toilet? ›

The spacecraft sports no toilet—unlike Crew Dragon—and has about the same livable volume as an SUV, making for a relatively cozy rise to and from orbit. It has physical hand controls and switches for the astronauts to control the spacecraft, unlike the touch screens used inside Crew Dragon.

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Can Starliner land on water? ›

The heat shield is then ditched and the six airbags are inflated. The airbags serve two purposes, they soften the landing on land and also provide buoyancy and balance for water landings if there is an abort or an emergency reentry.

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What is special about Starliner? ›

Spacecraft characteristics

The capsule accommodates seven passengers, or a mix of crew and cargo. For NASA missions to the ISS it will carry four passengers and a small amount of cargo. The Starliner capsule uses a weldless, spun-formed structure and is reusable up to 10 times with a six-month turnaround time.

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How much has Boeing lost on Starliner? ›

Spacecraft issues, on the other hand, have marred Boeing's Starliner program practically every step of the way. The vehicle has faced years of delays, setbacks and added expenses that have cost the company more than $1 billion, according to public financial records.

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Why was the Challenger flight delayed? ›

The launch was delayed for an additional hour to allow more ice to melt. The ice team performed an inspection at T–20 minutes which indicated that the ice was melting, and Challenger was cleared to launch at 11:38 a.m. EST, with an air temperature of 36 °F (2 °C).

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Is Starliner stuck? ›

The spacecraft during its time docked to the ISS has encountered more problems. A fifth leak of helium - used to pressurize Starliner's propulsion system thrusters - popped up, and separately an oxidizer valve has been stuck, NASA has said.

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Why does the space shuttle not fly anymore? ›

After the Columbia loss in 2003, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board report showed that the Space Transportation System (STS) was risky/unsafe, and due to the expense to make Shuttle safe, in 2004, President G. W. Bush announced (along with the VSE policy) that the Shuttles would be retired in 2010 (after ...

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How many times can the Starliner be used? ›

A 21st Century Space Capsule

The Starliner has an innovative, weldless structure and is reusable up to 10 times with a six-month turnaround time. It also features wireless internet and tablet technology for crew interfaces.

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