Saturday saw the cancellation of the planned launch for Boeing's Starliner space capsule just moments before liftoff. With only 3:50 left in the countdown, the rocket's computer triggered a hold, as the spacecraft requires precise timing to synchronize with the space station. Consequently, the mission will have to wait for at least another day to proceed.
NASA attributed the scrub to a technical issue, stating that the computer ground launch sequencer failed to load into the correct operational configuration during the terminal count, with teams currently investigating the cause.
This particular mission aimed to ferry two NASA astronauts from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to the International Space Station (ISS) on a 25-hour flight, marking the maiden voyage of the commercially built capsule with humans aboard.
As of now, NASA has not confirmed if another launch attempt will be made on Sunday.
The astronauts slated for this voyage, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were set to put Starliner through its paces, evaluating its performance ahead of operational missions for NASA. Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011, NASA has collaborated with commercial companies like Boeing and SpaceX to transport astronauts to and from the ISS.
This setback comes after a series of delays, with the Starliner launch originally scheduled about a month ago and already years behind schedule.
In an unexpected turn of events reminiscent of typical air travel scenarios, NASA mentioned that the astronauts' luggage was being left behind due to a malfunction in the space station's urine recycling system, necessitating the shipment of a new pump.
The Starliner program, initiated in 2014 with a $4.2-billion contract awarded to Boeing by NASA, has faced significant setbacks and budget overruns, with Boeing estimating losses exceeding $1 billion.
Technical issues have plagued the Starliner program, with previous delays attributed to various problems including faulty wiring, weak parachute connections, and helium leaks.
Despite these setbacks, if Starliner manages to launch successfully in the future, it will provide NASA with another private spacecraft option for transporting astronauts to the ISS, alongside SpaceX's Dragon capsule.
