Boeing canceled its first ever astronaut launch at the last minute after discovering a valve problem in the Atlas V rocket.
Both NASA the test pilots had just attached BoeingStarliner’s Starliner capsule at the Cape Canaveral Space Station for a flight to the International Space Station Monday evening (US EST) when the countdown stopped – two hours before scheduled liftoff.
This is the latest delay to the Boeing crew’s first flight, which has been suspended for years due to problems with the capsule.
The Atlas V rocket is manufactured by United Launch Alliance, which includes Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
United Launch Alliance Chief Executive Tory Bruno said the most recent delay may have been caused by an oxygen relief valve on the rocket’s upper stage that began to open and close , creating a loud buzzing sound.
The valve may have exceeded its lifespan of 200,000 cycles, meaning it will need to be replaced, pushing the launch back to next week, Bruno said.
In an update, NASA said the launch would take place no earlier than Friday.
Mr Bruno said similar valve problems had occurred in previous years on other Atlas rocket launch satellites and these had been resolved by turning the valves off and on.
But the company has stricter flight rules for astronaut flights, prohibiting recycling of valves while a crew is on board.
“That is why we remained faithful to the rules and procedures, and therefore we carried out a withdrawal,” Mr Bruno told a press conference.
This meant that the two crew members of NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore, 61, and Sunita “Suni” Williams, 58, had to be removed from the capsule by technicians, before being taken out of the launch complex to wait a second. attempted theft when the problem is resolved.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams walk toward Boeing’s Starliner capsule before the launch was canceled. Photo: AP
Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, added: “We’re taking it step by step, and we’re going to launch when we’re ready and fly when it’s safe to do so.”
The first uncrewed Starliner test flight failed to reach the space station in 2019 and Boeing had to repeat the flight. The company then encountered problems with the parachute and flammable tape.
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NASA hired Boeing and EspaceX a decade ago, to transport astronauts to and from the space station after the shuttle program ended, paying billions of dollars to private companies.
Atlas V has been operational for more than 20 years after its design by Lockheed Martin.
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