Current:Home > StocksBoeing Starliner's first crewed mission on hold, no new launch date set -Triumph Financial Guides
Boeing Starliner's first crewed mission on hold, no new launch date set
View
Date:2025-04-23 00:52:52
The highly-anticipated first crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner was delayed indefinitely Tuesday night and will not take off as planned Saturday. A new launch target was not announced.
The delay comes as a result of a helium leak from the capsule's propulsion system.
"The team has been in meetings for two consecutive days, assessing flight rationale, system performance, and redundancy," NASA said in a statement Tuesday. "There is still forward work in these areas, and the next possible launch opportunity is still being discussed."
A series of technical issues has waylaid the launch of the CST-100 Starliner, which was initially fueled up and ready for liftoff May 6 before the mission was scrubbed. The Starliner's crew, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, were even aboard the capsule before they had no choice but to exit and head back to their quarters.
Starliner is intended to be a vehicle that can ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station as NASA pivots to more partnerships with private industry.
As part of NASA’s commercial crew program, Boeing was awarded $4.8 billion, while its competitor, SpaceX, was awarded $3.1 billion in 2014 to develop their respective spacecraft, Florida Today reported. Under NASA's more ambitious commercial lunar program, it's also paid SpaceX $2.9 billion to develop the first commercial human lander for the agency's Artemis moon missions and eventually trips to Mars.
SpaceX scheduled to launch three rockets this week
SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 NROL-146 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California around 1 a.m. P.T. Wednesday, according to the company's website.
The mission was the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9 and nine Starlink missions, according to SpaceX.
SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket with the latest batch of group six Starlink satellites Wednesday night from Cape Canaveral. According to a Geospatial Navigational Warning and FAA Advisory, a launch window runs from 10:33 p.m. tonight to 3:04 a.m. Thursday. While SpaceX has yet to confirm, the FAA shows the mission as being Starlink 6-62.
While SpaceX typically launches in the earlier part of that window, the weather on the Space Coast, as well as the booster landing location, play a part in timing. However, according to the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron, conditions for tonight's launch window will be 95% favorable.
Thursday, SpaceX plans to launch yet another batch of Starlink satellites. This launch window runs from 6:45 p.m. until 11:16 p.m. Thursday. SpaceX has yet to confirm this mission, yet the FAA states the mission as Starlink 6-63.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
veryGood! (273)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Joe the Plumber, who questioned Obama’s tax policies during the 2008 campaign, has died at 49
- Florence Welch reveals emergency surgery amid tour cancellations: 'It saved my life'
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faces Black leaders’ anger after racist killings in Jacksonville
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Trump trial set for March 4, 2024, in federal case charging him with plotting to overturn election
- Mandy Moore cheers on ex Andy Roddick and his wife Brooklyn Decker: 'So happy for him'
- DeSantis booed at vigil for Jacksonville shooting victims
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- 2 dead, 5 injured after Sunday morning shooting at Louisville restaurant
Ranking
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Ringleader of 6-person crime syndicate charged with 76 counts of theft in Kentucky
- Irina Shayk Vacations With Ex Bradley Cooper Amid Tom Brady Romance Rumors
- Jennifer Love Hewitt Looks Unrecognizable With New Hair Transformation
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- 8 U.S. Marines in Australian hospital after Osprey crash that killed 3
- Passenger says airline lost her dog after it escaped and ran off on the tarmac
- Dollar General shooting victims identified after racially-motivated attack in Jacksonville
Recommendation
Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
Passenger says airline lost her dog after it escaped and ran off on the tarmac
Double threat shapes up as Tropical Storm Idalia and Hurricane Franklin intensify
Convicted ex-Ohio House speaker moved to Oklahoma prison to begin his 20-year sentence
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
Farmers Insurance lay off will affect 11% of workforce. CEO says 'decisive actions' needed
'Rapid intensification': How Idalia could quickly become a major hurricane before landfall
'A Guest in the House' rests on atmosphere, delivering an uncanny, wild ride