Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft crew meant for the International Space Station (ISS) in Florida faced another failure on Saturday, marking a setback for the aerospace giant. This comes after a previous failed attempt on May 6, just hours before takeoff.
The rocket, managed by the United Launch Alliance (ULA) group, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, was scheduled to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. However, an emergency system was activated at the last minute, prompting the cancellation of the launch.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both experienced test pilots, were prepared for the mission. They are set to embark on the next possible launch dates, which include Sunday, next Wednesday or Thursday pending necessary adjustments.
Boeing has faced several setbacks in its space program and this latest failure adds to their challenges. A successful launch of the Starliner would be crucial for Boeing to regain its reputation and demonstrate its capabilities in crewed space missions. NASA is looking to certify Boeing as the second commercial operator to transport crews to the ISS following SpaceX’s success in this area. Both companies received contracts in 2014 to develop their crewed capsules filling the gap left by the end of the Space Shuttle program.
