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Sunita Williams' space mission postponed to June 1
The highly-anticipated first-crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner, slated to carry the Indian-American astronaut, faced an unexpected delay just hours before liftoff on May.6.
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Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams. / X @Astro_Suni
NASA on May.23 announced that the inaugural crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, with Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams at the helm, to the International Space Station (ISS) is now scheduled for June.1.
Mission managers from NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance), are actively assessing options to proceed with the launch of the Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) to the International Space Station (ISS), a statement read.
The teams are currently aiming for a launch window at 12.25 pm ET on Saturday, June.1, with alternate opportunities available on June.2, June.5, and June.6.
The Boeing Starliner's Crewed Test Flight (CFT) mission was abruptly called off on May.6, a mere two hours prior to its scheduled launch, due to a valve malfunction detected in the Atlas 5 rocket's upper stage. Boeing later confirmed in a statement that the faulty valve had been replaced on May.11 and subsequently tested to ensure proper functionality.
On May.14, NASA declared that the CFT mission slated for May.17 would be postponed to no later than May.21. This delay was attributed to the discovery of a "small helium leak" in the spacecraft's service module, prompting the need for further assessment and resolution before proceeding with the mission.
On May.17, the space agency announced another delay, pushing the launch date further to May.25.
MEDIA: Join us tomorrow, May 24, at 11am ET (1500 UTC) as NASA, @BoeingSpace and @ULALaunch officials provide an update as teams work toward a #Starliner launch opportunity on June 1. Details on how to participate: https://t.co/OEKp3KGAtO pic.twitter.com/aNWmHfNiQx
— NASA (@NASA) May 23, 2024
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is intended to transport NASA astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a crucial final test. This mission is pivotal for NASA to certify the Starliner for regular transportation to and from the ISS.
The Starliner spacecraft is set to embark on its journey into space atop an Atlas 5 rocket, operated by the aerospace company United Launch Alliance (ULA). The launch will take place from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The two astronauts will stay docked at the orbiting laboratory for approximately two weeks, during which they will assess the performance of the new spacecraft and its systems. Following their mission, they will return to Earth, landing in the Western United States.
"We will launch Butch and Suni on this test mission after the entire community has reviewed the teams' progress and flight rationale at the upcoming Delta Agency Flight Test Readiness Review," Steve Stich, manager of the NASA Commercial Crew Program.
Both Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are actively engaged in training sessions using Starliner simulators. Meanwhile, the quarantined crew members will return to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the new launch date approaches, NASA said.
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