NASA Sets New Launch Date for Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Mission After Recent Delays

NASA has announced a new target launch date for Boeing’s first astronaut-crewed Starliner flight following multiple postponements, the latest caused by a helium leak. The mission is now scheduled to lift off on Saturday, June 1, at 12:25 p.m. ET, with backup dates of June 2, June 5, and June 6 available.

The crewed flight test, initially set for May 6, was delayed due to an issue with an oxygen valve on a rocket provided by United Launch Alliance (ULA), which manufactures the rockets for orbital launches. Another attempt planned for May 25 was postponed after discovering a helium leak in the service module, which houses the spacecraft’s support systems and instruments.

Steve Stich, manager of the NASA Commercial Crew Program, emphasized the thoroughness of the preparation, stating, “There has been a great deal of exceptional analysis and testing over the last two weeks by the joint NASA, Boeing, and ULA teams to replace the valve and troubleshoot the Starliner Service Module helium manifold leak. It has been important that we take our time to understand all the complexities of each issue.”

The upcoming mission will see NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard the Starliner. Wilmore, a 61-year-old former U.S. Navy captain, will command the flight, while Williams, 58, also a former Navy service member, will pilot the spacecraft. Both astronauts have been actively preparing in Starliner simulators and remain in quarantine at Johnson Space Center in Houston. As the launch nears, they will travel to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Once launched, the Starliner’s journey to the International Space Station (ISS) will take approximately 24 hours. During this time, the crew will conduct tests on various flight objects, including equipment checks. The astronauts are slated to spend a week aboard the ISS, evaluating the spacecraft and its systems before re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The spacecraft is expected to make a parachute-assisted landing in the western United States, utilizing an airbag system for a soft landing.

A media teleconference is scheduled for Friday, May 24, where NASA and Boeing officials will provide further details on the upcoming launch and ongoing preparations.

Success in this mission could lead NASA to certify the Starliner for regular missions to and from the ISS, complementing the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which currently handles crew and cargo transport to the station.

This mission is part of NASA’s broader Commercial Crew Program, which aims to utilize American rockets and spacecraft to support ISS operations and prepare for future missions to the moon and Mars.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, abcnews.go.com