June 1 (UPI) — NASA test pilots Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore will fly the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft until at least Sunday after the Saturday afternoon launch was scrapped.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket was scheduled to launch the Starliner into space Saturday at 12:25 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 in Florida.
A problem with a computer launch sequencer caused the launch to be scrapped less than four minutes before ignition.
Starliner’s next launch opportunity is Sunday at 12:03 PM ET.
“While teams work through the details to determine the cause of the scrub, the focus now is on the crew and helping them exit #Starliner safely,” Boeing Space wrote on X.
Shortly before the hold, all systems were “go”, but an automatic hold was activated by a flight sequence computer. No details have been revealed.
Around 10 a.m., teams discovered that data had been lost from ground valves responsible for replenishing liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the second or upper stage of the Atlas V rocket.
The hatch failed to close for about 45 minutes. The countdown resumed after a redundant system was used.
Williams and Wilmore give the Starliner its final shakedown run, including a weeklong stay docked at the International Space Station.
The test pilots will travel for two days to the ISS, where it will dock and stay for about a week as they test the Starliner’s ability to support a crew in space.
The Starliner will return to Earth with a planned landing in the southwestern American desert.
The Starliner is designed with a lifespan of 10 launches and landings.
Previous test launches were postponed for many reasons, including the use of flammable tape in the Starliner capsule, a buzzing noise on the launch pad, a faulty pressure valve on an oxygen tank in the upper stage, and a helium leak in the service module.
If the ten-day test flight is successful, NASA will likely certify the Starliner for use.
