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'Never ending setbacks': NASA's Boeing Starliner space capsule delayed by another 10 days

Produced by: Tarun Mishra

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Launch Delay

NASA announced a setback in the scheduled crewed test flight of Boeing Co's Starliner space capsule, attributing it to a pressure valve issue.

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Revised Launch Date

The mission, critical for Boeing’s competitiveness against SpaceX, is now targeted for May 17 at the earliest, as per NASA's latest update.

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Initial Schedule

Originally planned for liftoff on Monday, the launch faced a last-minute cancellation due to a malfunctioning pressure regulation valve.

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Technical Glitch

The valve problem occurred in the upper-stage liquid oxygen tank of the Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a Boeing-Lockheed Martin venture.

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Crew Details

The Starliner was set to carry two NASA astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, both experienced with over 500 hours of spaceflight.

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Post-Launch Plan

Upon reaching the International Space Station (ISS), the crew was expected to dock for about a week before returning to Earth with a parachute- and airbag-assisted landing.

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Repair Process

ULA decided to replace the faulty valve, necessitating the rocket’s return to the hangar for repairs and evaluations, pushing the launch date further.

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Program Background

The crewed flight follows the Starliner's first test flight to the ISS without humans, which occurred two years ago, alongside an unsuccessful uncrewed flight in 2019.

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Competitive Landscape

Boeing's efforts to establish Starliner's success contrasts with SpaceX's reliability as NASA's transport to space, amid intense scrutiny and cost overruns for Boeing.