2024-06-01 19:46:14
Key-SDA
(Key-ATS) The launch of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft was canceled on Saturday lower than 4 minutes earlier than launch. This was as a consequence of a technical drawback that was not instantly clear, commentators introduced throughout NASA’s dwell video.
That is the second delayed takeoff in lower than a month for this mission, which might enable Starliner to hold NASA astronauts to the Worldwide House Station (ISS) for the primary time.
Takeoff was scheduled for Saturday at 12:25 pm from Cape Canaveral in Florida (6:25 pm Swiss time). NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, two area troopers, have been put in aboard the Starliner capsule that was positioned on prime of an Atlas V rocket from the ULA group.
However the countdown was stopped on the final minute by an mechanically triggered system, for a cause that’s nonetheless unknown, NASA defined.
Groups from ULA, Boeing and NASA then started placing the rocket right into a secure configuration so the 2 astronauts may go away.
Fallback dates
In concept, fallback dates are potential for take off on Sunday, in addition to subsequent Wednesday or Thursday, however the issue that has arisen have to be analyzed earlier than a brand new date might be introduced.
Ten years in the past, NASA ordered two new autos from the American corporations Boeing and SpaceX to move its astronauts to the House Station (ISS). SpaceX has already been enjoying this function as an area taxi for 4 years.
Already shaken by security issues on its planes, Boeing is playing its fame on this take a look at mission, which should display that its ship is secure earlier than it begins common missions to the ISS.
Within the case of NASA, the stakes are additionally excessive: if the second car may higher handle potential emergency conditions.
New association
Saturday’s cancellation is a brand new setback for this mission, which has already been out of date for a few years. At the start of Could, the takeoff had already been canceled on the final minute as a consequence of an issue with a valve on the rocket, which has since been changed.
A small helium leak was then found on one of many ship’s thrusters. However Boeing and NASA determined to not repair it, which might have required dismantling Starliner.
“We actually assume we will deal with this leak,” Steve Stich, head of NASA’s business human spaceflight program, stated Friday. It didn’t unfold throughout preparations for the Saturday morning flight, the company stated.
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