NASA, Boeing Forgo Starliner Crewed Flight Test Until June Earliest

The postponement marks the fifth delay to the long-awaited mission, which would be the first time humans have flown on Starliner.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 02:27 PM ET

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Boeing’s Starliner capsule successfully docks with the International Space Station during its second uncrewed flight test in May 2022. [Courtesy: Boeing]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's Starliner Crewed Flight Test (CFT) has been further delayed to no earlier than June 1, continuing a decade of setbacks for the program.
The latest postponements stem from an initial rocket valve issue and, more recently, a small helium leak on the Starliner's service module that requires extensive assessment.
NASA views Starliner as a crucial alternative to SpaceX's Crew Dragon, providing vital redundancy for transporting astronauts to the International Space Station.
Despite logistical pressures from a crowded ISS schedule and shared launch facilities, safety evaluations related to the helium leak remain the priority before the next launch attempt.

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Boeing’s Starliner, a semireusable vessel to the International Space Station (ISS) that has contended with a decade of delays to its inaugural Crewed Flight Test (CFT), will now launch no earlier than June

After postponing the previously announced May 25 launch attempt of the Starliner CFT on Tuesday, NASA on Wednesday said that it, Boeing, and launch provider United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, are targeting no earlier than Saturday, June 1, at 12:25 p.m. EDT for the next attempt. Additional launch windows include Sunday, June 2, Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.