Boeing’s Starliner, scheduled for its inaugural crewed voyage on Saturday, had its launch postponed. The spacecraft, set to take off atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, was supposed to carry veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
However, an automatic hold initiated by the ground launch sequencer interrupted the countdown at 3 minutes and 50 seconds before liftoff. The exact cause of the hold remains unclear, but mission teams anticipate a 24-hour delay. This pause likely stemmed from the computer detecting an unexpected condition post-command issuance, unable to verify a proper response.
Teams will now ensure the safe extraction of astronauts from the capsule, returning them to crew quarters for the next launch opportunity. Backup opportunities exist for launch on the following day, June 5, or June 6, though the exact rescheduled date is yet to be determined.
Weather conditions were largely favorable, with concerns only about winds and cumulus clouds, according to Mark Burger, launch weather officer.
Before the scheduled launch, around 10 a.m. ET, there was a loss of data from ground valves responsible for replenishing liquid oxygen and hydrogen. Although this led to a delay in hatch closure for approximately 45 minutes, mission teams resolved the issue and resumed preparations.
This delay, while significant, did not compromise crew safety, and the hatch was closed around 11:20 a.m. ET.
The mission, named Crew Flight Test, represents Boeing’s contribution to NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, aiming to expand options for transporting astronauts to the space station. When launched, Starliner’s flight will mark only the sixth inaugural journey of a crewed spacecraft in US history.
Suni Williams will make history as the first woman to fly aboard such a mission. Upon reaching orbit, the Starliner crew capsule will separate from the Atlas V rocket, undertaking various tests of the spacecraft's capabilities during its journey to the International Space Station.