In a setback for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the first crewed test flight has been rescheduled due to a technical issue with the Atlas V rocket’s upper stage. The launch, which was originally targeted for mid-2023, has now been pushed back to late 2023 or early 2024.
Technical Issue with Atlas V Rocket’s Upper Stage
The issue was discovered during a routine inspection of the Atlas V rocket’s upper stage, which is responsible for delivering the Starliner spacecraft to its desired orbit. The specific nature of the technical problem has not been disclosed, but it is serious enough to warrant a delay in the launch schedule.
Impact on Starliner’s Crewed Test Flight
The rescheduling of the Starliner’s first crewed test flight is a significant setback for Boeing and NASA’s plans to have the spacecraft ready for regular crew transportation to the International Space Station (ISS). This delay will push back the timeline for the Starliner to become operational and potentially impact the availability of crew transportation options to the ISS.
Importance of the Starliner Program
The Starliner program is a crucial part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to develop and maintain a domestic capability for launching astronauts from American soil. The successful completion of the Starliner’s crewed test flight is a critical milestone that will pave the way for the spacecraft to begin regular flights to the ISS, reducing the agency’s reliance on Russian Soyuz vehicles for crew transportation.