Boeing’s first manned Starliner launch postponed again due to computer problems

Boeing, NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) Now the goal The crewed launch is scheduled for June 2, 12:03 PM ET for Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which was cleaned less than 4 minutes before liftoff on June 1. If the launch happens on Sunday, it will be the first time the Starliner, which has faced multiple delays, will fly with humans on board.

NASA says ULA is currently investigating why a computer called the ground launch sequencer did not enter the “correct operational configuration,” triggering the automatic hold. During a later press conference, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said the problem was that one of three redundant launch sequencers, which are used to control things like releasing connections to the rocket before launch, was slow to respond. He said if a solution is “as simple as changing a card,” the launch will take place on the 2nd. Otherwise, the launch will be pushed back to June 5th or 6th.

The flight is intended to carry two American astronauts – Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams – to the International Space Station (ISS), where they will dock (NASA plans to land it in space). Live stream this too) Wilmore and Williams will remain aboard the station for a week to test Starliner and its subsystems, followed by NASA’s final certification of the spacecraft for a rotational mission to the ISS.

Starliner is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, in which the agency develops new spacecraft in collaboration with private companies. SpaceX is also part of this program and has NASA astronauts launched from 2020,

Update June 1, 2024, 3:16PM ET: Updated to reflect that the launch has been canceled and there is now a new target launch date.