Boeing’s Starliner delayed its first crewed launch
Boeing’s highly anticipated Starliner spacecraft was set to make its first crewed launch, but a last-minute issue with an oxygen relief valve on the Atlas V caused a delay. The launch attempt was called off just over two hours before liftoff, disappointing many who were eagerly awaiting this historic moment.
The new target launch date is now set for May 10, giving engineers time to address the problem and ensure a successful mission. The Starliner is scheduled to carry astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station on its inaugural crewed flight.
This mission holds particular significance as Wilmore and Williams will be the first astronauts to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in over five decades. The last crewed mission to lift off from this site was Apollo 7 in 1968, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding this event.
NASA has big plans for the Starliner, aiming to have it fully operational for future missions as early as next year. This is all part of the agency’s efforts to have two different spacecraft capable of launching from U.S. soil, providing more flexibility and redundancy for crewed missions to space.
As the situation continues to develop, Space.com will be providing updates and insights on the progress of the Starliner launch. Stay tuned for more information on this groundbreaking mission and the future of commercial space travel.
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