NASA, ULA, Boeing aims Starliner launch for the first week of June

NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have announced a new possible flight date for the CFT-100 Starliner test by the first week of June.

Teams are targeting 12:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 1, and there are backup launch opportunities on Sunday, June 2, Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.

The new schedule for the flight appears after a helium leak was spotted in the Starliner’s service module. NASA says that corresponding engineers are working to fix the issue and assess the performance and redundancy.

Meanwhile, teams are completing a propulsion system assessment to understand the potential helium system impact on the spacecraft’s return. Furthermore, the agency will work with ULA to check the flight readiness of the Atlas V rocket.

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner Spacecraft vertical on Atlas V rocket on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41  (Image Source – NASA)

The first attempt on May 6 was scrubbed due to issues in the launch vehicle, which later led to this leak in the spacecraft. Since then, the planned crew flight test has been delayed.

This flight aims to send NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Wiliams to International Space Station and bring them back to Earth. NASA has organized a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT Friday, May 24 to provide insight into the next targeted launch opportunity and updates.

(source)