After 2 attempts, Boeing tries again to launch first NASA astronaut flight
Boeing geared up again Wednesday for its first astronaut launch, held up for years by safety concerns. Boeing has attempted its first astronaut launch, after two unsuccessful attempts due to safety concerns. This is the third attempt for NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in Boeing's Starliner capsule. The astronauts will test Starliner's systems on the way to the International Space Station before aiming for a touchdown in the western U.S. The first attempt was halted due to software issues and a power unit failure at the pad. The next mission will take place in 2022.
Opublikowany : 10 miesięcy temu za pomocą The Associated Press w Travel Science
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing geared up again Wednesday for its first astronaut launch, held up for years by safety concerns.
It was the third launch attempt for NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams in Boeing’s Starliner capsule. Rocket-related trouble thwarted the first two countdowns.
The astronauts will test Starliner’s systems on the way to the International Space Station, where they’ll spend at least a week before aiming for a touchdown in the western U.S.
NASA hired Boeing along with SpaceX after the space shuttles retired to transport astronauts to and from the space station. SpaceX has been ferrying astronauts since 2020.
Boeing’s capsule rocketed into orbit in 2019 without a crew, but that test flight was cut short by software problems. Boeing had better luck on the do-over mission in 2022, but parachute and other issues later were discovered, delaying Starliner’s crew debut even further.
Minutes before Saturday’s planned liftoff, a computer’s power unit failed at the pad that had to be replaced by rocket maker United Launch Alliance. And a bad valve inside the Atlas V rocket scrapped the launch attempt in early May.
Tematy: Aviation, Airlines, Space, NASA