NASA has announced the postponement of the first manned test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, just two hours before the scheduled launch, due to a recently discovered security issue that needs to be resolved. The head of NASA, Bill Nelson, emphasized the importance of safety and stated that they will launch when they are confident in the spacecraft’s readiness.
The delay is a setback for Boeing, but all parties involved in the project are focusing on resolving the issue and ensuring a successful outcome. ULA, a company involved in the project, stated that they will organize a new launch date at the earliest on Friday, allowing for a thorough evaluation process to take place.
NASA is hoping for a successful Starliner test flight in order to have another spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The Starliner has faced production delays in the past, with issues during the first unmanned test flight in 2019 and further delays in 2021 due to technical problems. Despite these setbacks, NASA aims to have the Starliner operational alongside SpaceX’s Dragon ship for manned flights to the ISS.
Once fully operational, NASA plans to use both spacecraft for manned flights to the ISS. This collaboration between Boeing and NASA is aimed at advancing human space exploration and providing new opportunities for scientific discovery and exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.
