Starliner does not take off: Boeing’s first manned launch is postponed

Air transport company Boeing and NASA canceled final tests of the Starliner capsule due to Atlas V rocket technical failure, built by United Launch Alliance. If the precautionary checks do not reveal any further errors, a new launch attempt will be made on Friday, May 10th.

Starliner’s takeoff and docking with the International Space Station represents Boeing’s latest test as a space transportation agency. If the capsule succeeds in delivering a two-person crew to the low-Earth orbit laboratory, NASA will certify its design for inclusion on future space missions. If achieved, Boeing would become the agency’s No. 2 space transportation provider, behind only SpaceX, which currently stands out with its Crew Dragon capsule.

Boeing has been working on its transport vehicle since 2019, receiving a $4.2 billion budget from NASA. Over the past five years, the final capsule design has undergone two unmanned tests. One of them failed due to software. After intense self-evaluation, Starliner is finally declared ready to begin its history in space. Elon Musk, owner of rival SpaceX, weighed in on Boeing’s troubled space history: “We have too many non-technical managers,” he wrote in his X profile.

Two hours before the final count began, the United Launch Alliance security team discovered failure of the solenoid valve for automatic control of liquid oxygen, located in the upper stage of the rocket. To avoid any risk, they decided to cancel the launch attempt and spend a few days doing a full evaluation. “NASA’s first priority is safety. We’ll go when we’re ready,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. The testing delay has nothing to do with the Boeing Starliner.

Boeing remains in the spotlight

The airline company is under new investigation by the US Federal Aviation Administration. According to the government agency, data is being collected on inspections carried out by Boeing on its aircraft, as well as whether its employees may have falsified documentation related to the aircraft.

The firm is currently facing a crisis of confidence. After suffering a couple of serious failures on its planes, the company lost millions of dollars in inventory and was forced to prove that its planes were safe for crew members.