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Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Postponed to May After Valve Issue

May 14, 2024 1 min read

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The launch of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner's first crewed flight to the International Space Station has been postponed until no earlier than May 21st. Initially scheduled for earlier this month, the delay was extended after engineers discovered a helium leak in the spacecraft's service module. This follows an earlier postponement due to a valve issue with the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.

Boeing, in collaboration with NASA, is actively working on a resolution for the small leak, which was identified in a flange of a single reaction control system thruster. The delay allows time for testing and operational solutions to bring Starliner's propulsion system to the appropriate flight pressure levels.

This mission is a significant milestone for Boeing as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which involves a $4.3 billion contract to provide transport for crew and cargo to and from the space station. Boeing's Starliner is expected to join SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which has already been operational, in advancing American crewed spaceflight capabilities.

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