Refresh <\/p>\n
Boeing and NASA have decided to delay the planned landing of its first Starliner astronaut test flight to no earlier than Wednesday, June 26, to allow \"a little more time to look at the data\" due to helium leaks and thruster issues on the spacecraft. <\/p>\n
Starliner is now targeted to land at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 4:51 a.m. EDT (0951 GMT) on June 26, NASA officials said. <\/p>\n
NASA and Boeing are holding a press conference now on Boeing's Starliner mission. You can listen live here: <\/p>\n
NASA will talk about the delayed return to Earth of Boeing's Starliner capsule during a press conference today (June 18), and you can listen to it live. <\/p>\n
NASA and Boeing representatives will discuss the progress ofStarliner's mission at theInternational Space Station(ISS), which docked June 6 after experiencing several helium leaks and issues with five onboard reaction control system (RCS) thrusters. <\/p>\n
The press conference begins at 12 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) and you can listen to it live here at Space.com, via NASA Television. <\/p>\n
Read more: NASA and Boeing will discuss Starliner's delayed ISS departure today, and you can listen live <\/p>\n
The departure of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft from the space station, with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard, has been pushed back four more days, NASA announced Friday morning (June 14), in a blog post. Starliner's Crew Flight Test (CFT) is now set to return no earlier than (NET) June 22. The extra time, according to NASA, will allow mission teams to finalize departure details and continue to test the on-orbit capabilities of the spacecraft. <\/p>\n
In the interim, CFT crew members Wilmore and Williams will perform additional checks on Starliner, including a \"hot-fire\" test of seven of the spacecraft's eight aft thrusters, hatch operations and \"safe haven\" drills to utilize Starliner in an emergency. NASA will hold a briefing Tuesday, June 18, to elaborate on Starliner's delay, flight status and landing details. <\/p>\n
As NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams continue to run through planned systems checks of their Starliner spacecraft, the space agency is keeping a watchful eye on the capsule's helium leaks. One leak was detected before launch, but deemed minor enough to proceed with the mission. Now, since its time in space, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has sprung four more helium leaks, though they have also been deemed not to pose a risk to the crew or spacecraft through its return window June 18. \"Engineers evaluated the helium supply based on current leak rates and determined that Starliner has plenty of margin to support the return trip from station,\" NASA officials wrote in aCFT update on Monday(June 10). <\/p>\n
Related: NASA weighs potential impacts of helium leaks and more on Boeing's Starliner astronaut test flight <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The first crew flight test of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft will last a little longer than planned. <\/p>\n
Starliner is currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS) while its crew, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are spending a week aboard the orbital lab testing out the new spacecraft and conducting scientific research in microgravity. A spacewalk planned for June 13 being performed by a different crew aboard the ISS would have overlapped with Starliner's originally scheduled departure time, so NASA has decided to push the mission's ISS departure to June 18. <\/p>\n
\"The additional time in orbit will allow the crew to perform aspacewalkon Thursday, June 13, while engineers complete #Starliner systems checkouts,\" NASA ISS officialssaid on Sunday(June 9) via X. <\/p>\n
Read more: Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut mission extended through June 18 <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are starting their first full docked day at the International Space Station. <\/p>\n
Among their tasks today is to unpack a new urine processing pump for a replacement, NASA officials said. The urine processor was a late addition to Starliner's cargo manifest after the unit on the space station failed earlier this month. <\/p>\n
Wilmore and Williams will spend about eight days putting Starliner through a series of tests to help certify it for operational crew missions. \"We're looking forward to staying here for a couple of weeks and getting all the things that we need to get done,\" Wilmore said during a welcome ceremony after Starliner's arrival on June 6. <\/p>\n
Related: The ISS has a urine pump problem. Boeing's Starliner astronaut launch will flush it out. <\/p>\n
About two hours following their successful docking, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were given the 'go' to open Starliner's hatch and enter the International Space Station. Wilmore and Suni opened the hatch from inside Starliner, and after some work to stow the spacecraft's hatch for egress, entered the ISS and were greeted by the ringing of a bell by the station's current crew as all seven members of Expedition 71 at 3:45 p.m. EDT (1945 GMT). <\/p>\n
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has docked to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Soft capture occurred at 1:34 p.m. EDT (1734 GMT) with the forward docking port of space station's Harmony module. Starliner performed the docking autonomously. \"At 12:34pm, Central time above the Indian Ocean, we have confirmation of contact and capture of NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test and Starliner aboard the International Space Station. Butch and Suni, have made their arrival,\" NASA commentators said on the space agency's live stream. A series of docking procedures will now take place as movement between Starliner and the space station dissipates. Starliner's hatch is expected to occur in about an hour, with a short welcome ceremony from the current ISS crew. <\/p>\n
After a test fire of some of Starliner's reaction control system thrusters (RCS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now moving toward the forward docking port of the space station's Harmony module. The spacecraft's original docking attempt was waved off after an anomaly in those thrusters was detected, and after troubleshooting, it was determined to be safe to proceed with docking. Starliner is currently being operated autonomously, and will remain in that configuration through docking. <\/p>\n
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have waved off the first docking attempt of their Starliner spacecraft with the Internationals Space Station, due to an anomaly with at least two of the spacecraft service module's reaction control thrusters. The earliest scheduled docking was set for 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT), but that window is no longer available. The next available window begins at 1:33 EDT (1733 GMT). As Starliner remains in a 'hold' position, station-keeping with the ISS at about 200 meters distance, the astronauts continue to fly the spacecraft in manual mode, before switching to an automated maneuvering system ahead of docking procedures. <\/p>\n
Related: Boeing Starliner astronauts wave off 1st ISS docking attempt amid thruster issues <\/p>\n
Starliner is currently station-keeping with the ISS at a distance of about 200 meters away. They do not currently have the 'go' to enter the space station's 'keep-out sphere' and proceed with the docking process, as they troubleshoot an issue with the spacecraft's reaction control system thrusters on the service module, which experienced an anomaly during the manual fly-around maneuver. <\/p>\n
Flying autonomously, Starliner is completing a series of burns to reach the ellipsoid of the International Space Station (ISS) for proximity operations. This boundary is a four kilometer by two kilometer by a two kilometer invisible sphere around the ISS, which acts as a safety buffer for all incoming and departing spacecraft. <\/p>\n
Once the spacecraft has executed an approach corridor initiation burn, it will hold at around 850 feet (260 meters) away from the space station for manual piloting demo. Following, docking is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT), at the station's forward-facing node-2 docking port. <\/p>\n
It's docking day for Boeing's first Starliner astronaut mission with the spacecraft due to arrive at the International Space Station at 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT) with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard. <\/p>\n
The astronauts awoke from their first night in space at 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT), with Wilmore asking Mission Control for a status on two new helium leaks detected overnight in Starliner's propulsion system. <\/p>\n
\"We're kind of curious where we stand as far as our leaks. And if we could get a summary on that, that'd be wonderful,\" Wilmore radioed to the Mission Control <\/p>\n
\"The big picture that it currently creates is that are we are going to be able to support a rendezvous today,\" Mission Control's Capcom radioed back. <\/p>\n
Flight controllers detected two additional helium leaks to one already known about in Starliner's propulsion system overnight and closed manifolds associated with them. Mission Control reports that all three manifolds should be reopened in time for docking. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are hard at work performing initial tests on the Starliner spacecraft in orbit as they head to the International Space Station. <\/p>\n
Butch Wilmore is performing a series of manual flight control tests to see how Starliner handles under astronaut control. Boeing and NASA have about 85 different demonstrations and test to perform over the course of their one-week flight. <\/p>\n
\"It's really a big checkout day,\" Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said in a statement. \"And really ,the purpose of this is to learn we can about Starliner.\" <\/p>\n
NASA chief Bill Nelson told reporters that Wilmore and Williams will test Starliner \"from izzard to gizzard\" during their mission. Space.com Spaceflight editor has the full story in our Starliner post-launch wrap up. <\/p>\n
NASA is holding a live press conference now about Boeing's Starliner astronaut mission. You can watch it live on NASA TV here. <\/p>\n
Also, NASA's Media Channel is showing a live mission coverage of Starliner's progress to the International Space Station. You can follow that live here. <\/p>\n
Starliner has completed its orbital insertion burn, placing the spacecraft in a stable low-Earth orbit (LEO). Aboard, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now on a coarse to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS), pending minor trajectory burns. Starliner is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Thursday (June 6) around 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT). <\/p>\n
The Starliner spacecraft has successfully separated from the Centaur upper stage o its Atlas V rocket, a critical milestone for this Crew Flight Test mission. <\/p>\n
The spacecraft is technically not in orbit yet. That milestone will come after an orbital insertion burn scheduled for about 30 minutes after liftoff, or about 11:22 a.m. ET <\/p>\n
ULA's Atlas V rocket has jettisoned its first stage and is now flying under the power of two Centaur upper stage engines as it continues toward orbit. <\/p>\n
The protective aeroskirt and docking port cover on the Starliner spacecraft have also been jettisoned. The rocket continues to perform as planned on the trip to space. <\/p>\n
Here's more photos of the launch. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing's first crewed Starliner spacecraft to orbit has jettisoned its twin solid rocket boosters as the rocket continues its uphill flight toward orbit. <\/p>\n
Coming up next is main engine shutdown and first stage separation. <\/p>\n
STARLINER AWAY! Boeing's first Starliner spacecraft to carry astronauts has lifted off atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and is headed to space. <\/p>\n
Liftoff occurred on time at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). <\/p>\n
The Launch Director for today's Boeing Starliner astronaut launch has conducted final GO-NO GO poll for today's launch and it is GO across the board. Starliner is again ready for launch. Just minutes remain before launch. <\/p>\n
\"Starliner, Go,\" Crew Flight Test commander Butch Wilmore said from inside the capsule during the test. <\/p>\n
\"We all know that when the going gets tough, as it often does, the tough get going, and you all have,\" Wilmore said. \"Let's get going, let's put some fire in this rocket. \" <\/p>\n
\"Let's go Calyspo, take us to space and back,\" pilot Sunita Williams said, referring to the name of the Starliner capsule. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Crew Access Arm has been retracted clear of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket as the countdown progresses for today's Starliner astronaut launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). <\/p>\n
Starliner is now on internal power for the mission. So far, no issues have affected the launch countdown. <\/p>\n
Boeing's 1st Starliner launch is now just over 10 minutes away. If you're along the U.S. souteastern coast of Florida's East Coast, you may be able to see the launch. <\/p>\n
Here's a map of visibility for the Starliner Crew Flight Test launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance are now less than 30 minutes to Boeing's first Starliner astronaut launch and all systems continue to perform well for today's launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). <\/p>\n
In Houston, NASA's Crew Flight Test director Mike Lamers is preparing to call for a Go-No Go poll to ensure Mission Control is ready for the flight. In Florida, ULA and Boeing's launch director are preparing for their own final poll in the remaining minutes before launch. <\/p>\n
Boeing is now T-1 hour away and counting toward the launch of its first Starliner astronaut test flight for NASA at 10:52 am. EDT (1452 GMT). <\/p>\n
The countdown has been smooth so far, with the weather continuing to look good for launch. <\/p>\n
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will spend 25 hours aboard Starliner after launch to reach the International Space Station. Once at the ISS, they'll spend about a week docked at the station performing tests on the spacecraft before returning to Earth for a land landing in the American Southwest. Check out this mission overview below. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The hatch to Boeing's Starliner Crewed Flight Test capsule has been closed for launch as the countdown continues for Boeing's historic first astronaut launch for NASA at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). <\/p>\n
Cabin pressurization is under way. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Boeing's Starliner close-out crew has fully strapped in NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams for today's launch at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. <\/p>\n
A weather briefing is under way ahead of hatch closure for the Starliner spacecraft. So far, weather has looked promising, with a pristine 90% chance of good conditions to launch. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Boeing's Starliner close-out crew is strapping NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore into the commander's seat of the Starliner Crew Flight Test capsule as the countdown continues for today's 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) launch. Pilot Sunita Williams will follow Wilmore into the capsule from the White Room connected to the Starliner hatch shortly. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Starliner Crewed Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are headed to their Starliner Atlas V rocket launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The two astronauts walked out of NASA's Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center with broad smiles, waves and roses as they bid farewell to friends and loved ones ahead of their flight. <\/p>\n
Before leaving for the pad, Wilmore (Starliner's commander) and Williams (the pilot) did battle with NASA Chief Astronaut Joe Acaba (a teacher-turned-spaceflyer) in a series of games. By tradition, astronaut crews have to beat the chief astronaut at those games before leaving for the pad. They appeared to tackle trials of arm wrestling and Rock, Paper, Scissors for this go around. <\/p>\n
Starliner's CFT mission will be the third career spaceflight for both Williams and Wilmore. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are suiting up for their launch on Boeing's Starliner Crewed Flight Test mission today from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). Wilmore (commander) and Williams (pilot) are donning their blue Boeing-issue spacesuits in NASA's checkout buidling. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, United Launch Alliance has completed the fueling operations for the Starliner crew's Atlas V rocket. Currently, all systems are operating as expected with a 90% chance of good weather, with cumulus clouds posing the only potential threat to launch. <\/p>\n
The ULA team has begun filing the Centaur upper stage with liquid oxygen. About 4,150 gallons of liquid oxygen will be loaded into the Dual Engine Centaur for its mission to accelerate Starliner to space. <\/p>\n
Starliner is scheduled to launch today at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). You can watch it here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The first crewed mission aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft is proceeding towards launch on Wednesday (June 5) after a computer issue in the ground launch sequencer system scrubbed the previous launch attempt with just minutes left in the countdown. <\/p>\n
\"Teams at NASA and Boeing Space confirmed on Monday that the Starliner spacecraft, ULA Atlas V rocket, and ground support equipment are healthy and ready for the 10:52 a.m. ET June 5 launch of the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test,\" NASA's Commercial Crew program wrote on X on Monday (June 3). <\/p>\n
The U.S. Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45 has predicted a 90% chance of favorable weather at launch, which occurs at 10:52 a.m. ET (1452 GMT). Watch it live here courtesy of NASA. <\/p>\n
Related: Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch aborted minutes before liftoff (video) <\/p>\n
Boeing's next attempt to launch its first Starliner astronaut mission will occur no earlier than June 5, NASA officials said this afternoon. <\/p>\n
In an emailed statement to reporters, NASA said that the agency, Boeing and the United Launch Alliance will skip a launch opportunity on June 2 and await the next window on June 5. Liftoff is now set for Wednesday, June 5, at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT). <\/p>\n
\"Saturday's launch was to carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the International Space Station scrubbeddue to anobservation of a ground launch sequencer. The system was unsuccessful in verifying the sequencers necessary redundancy,\" NASA officials wrote in an update. <\/p>\n
\"NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) are forgoing a Crew Flight Test launch attempt Sunday, June 2, to give the team additional time to assess a ground support equipment issue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex-41 in Florida,\" NASA added. \"ULA will assess the ground support equipment overnight, and NASA will provide an update June 2 on next steps for the flight.The next available launch opportunities are Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.\" <\/p>\n
Tory Bruno, CEO of the United Launch Alliance, told reporters that a faulty computer card appears to have led to today's Starliner launch abort minutes before liftoff. The card is in one of several computers that form the ground launch sequencersystem that governs the final phase of its Atlas V rocket countdown. Solving the problem may be as simple as just replacing the computer card, which can be done once pad crews can safely approach the pad after the Atlas V has been emptied of propellant and made safe, a process that will take several hours. <\/p>\n
If the fix is that simple, then Starliner's next launch will be set for Sunday, July 2, at 12:03 p.m. EDT (1603 GMT), with NASA's livestream of the launch beginning around 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT). NASA's Steve Stitch said the agency will make an announcement later Saturday afternoon or evening on the launch plan. <\/p>\n
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Boeing Starliner 1st astronaut flight: Live updates - Space.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Refresh Boeing and NASA have decided to delay the planned landing of its first Starliner astronaut test flight to no earlier than Wednesday, June 26, to allow \"a little more time to look at the data\" due to helium leaks and thruster issues on the spacecraft. Continue reading