Current:Home > MyBoeing Starliner's first crewed mission on hold, no new launch date set -MarketStream
Boeing Starliner's first crewed mission on hold, no new launch date set
View
Date:2025-04-17 05:12:11
The highly-anticipated first crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner was delayed indefinitely Tuesday night and will not take off as planned Saturday. A new launch target was not announced.
The delay comes as a result of a helium leak from the capsule's propulsion system.
"The team has been in meetings for two consecutive days, assessing flight rationale, system performance, and redundancy," NASA said in a statement Tuesday. "There is still forward work in these areas, and the next possible launch opportunity is still being discussed."
A series of technical issues has waylaid the launch of the CST-100 Starliner, which was initially fueled up and ready for liftoff May 6 before the mission was scrubbed. The Starliner's crew, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, were even aboard the capsule before they had no choice but to exit and head back to their quarters.
Starliner is intended to be a vehicle that can ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station as NASA pivots to more partnerships with private industry.
As part of NASA’s commercial crew program, Boeing was awarded $4.8 billion, while its competitor, SpaceX, was awarded $3.1 billion in 2014 to develop their respective spacecraft, Florida Today reported. Under NASA's more ambitious commercial lunar program, it's also paid SpaceX $2.9 billion to develop the first commercial human lander for the agency's Artemis moon missions and eventually trips to Mars.
SpaceX scheduled to launch three rockets this week
SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 NROL-146 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California around 1 a.m. P.T. Wednesday, according to the company's website.
The mission was the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9 and nine Starlink missions, according to SpaceX.
SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket with the latest batch of group six Starlink satellites Wednesday night from Cape Canaveral. According to a Geospatial Navigational Warning and FAA Advisory, a launch window runs from 10:33 p.m. tonight to 3:04 a.m. Thursday. While SpaceX has yet to confirm, the FAA shows the mission as being Starlink 6-62.
While SpaceX typically launches in the earlier part of that window, the weather on the Space Coast, as well as the booster landing location, play a part in timing. However, according to the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron, conditions for tonight's launch window will be 95% favorable.
Thursday, SpaceX plans to launch yet another batch of Starlink satellites. This launch window runs from 6:45 p.m. until 11:16 p.m. Thursday. SpaceX has yet to confirm this mission, yet the FAA states the mission as Starlink 6-63.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Bernardo Arévalo faces huge challenges after finally being sworn in as Guatemala’s president
- Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state confronts flood damage after heavy rain kills at least 12
- Elton John Reacts to Becoming an EGOT After 2023 Emmys Win
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Woman's body, wreckage found after plane crashes into ocean in Half Moon Bay, California
- New Mexico’s financial surplus and crime set the stage for the governor’s speech to lawmakers
- Ex-President Donald Trump is set to face a jury over a columnist’s sex abuse and defamation claims
- Man charged with murder in death of beloved Detroit-area neurosurgeon
- These Valentine’s Day Edits From Your Favorite Brands Will Make Your Heart Skip a Beat
Ranking
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Shell to sell big piece of its Nigeria oil business, but activists want pollution cleaned up first
- Christina Applegate Gets Standing Ovation at Emmys 2023 Amid Multiple Sclerosis Battle
- Bernardo Arévalo faces huge challenges after finally being sworn in as Guatemala’s president
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Is chocolate milk good for you? Here's the complicated answer.
- Emmy Awards host Anthony Anderson rocks his monologue alongside mom and Travis Barker
- The 23 Most Fashionable Lululemon Finds That Aren’t Activewear—Sweaters, Bodysuits, Belt Bags, and More
Recommendation
Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
National Bagel Day 2024: Free bagel at Einstein Bros. and other bagel deals
Turkey releases Israeli soccer player Sagiv Jehezkel after detention for displaying Gaza war message
Rob McElhenney watches Eagles game on his phone during the Emmys
British swimmer Adam Peaty: There are worms in the food at Paris Olympic Village
Fukushima nuclear plant operator in Japan says it has no new safety concerns after Jan. 1 quake
Police search for suspect after man is lit on fire in Washington D.C. near Capitol
Dangerously cold temps continue to blast much of the US, keeping schools closed and flights grounded