After many delays, the first unmanned flight of the capsule Starliner of Boeing Confirmed to launch on Wednesday 5th June Pot. Launch is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. ET Space Launch Complex-41 In Space Force Station of Cape CanaveralIn Florida (USA).
launch Originally scheduled for Saturday, June 1 It was canceled minutes before launch due to a problem with the ground launch sequencer not loading in the correct operational configuration.
As confirmed, the US space agency explained that “the system's ground launch sequencer was not loaded in the correct operational configuration”. ABC News.
The United Publishing Alliance (ULA), which manufactures and operates the rockets that launch the capsule, worked until Sunday to evaluate ground support equipment, which failed during the countdown. A power supply problem was detected in one of the three redundant units that power the computer cards that control many of the systems.
All units are necessary to guarantee the safety of personnel during the terminal phase of said figure.
On Sunday, the problematic unit was removed, inspected and a replacement unit was replaced. No signs of physical damage were found, and functional tests of the new chassis and cards were completed, confirming that all hardware was functioning normally. A complete failure analysis is performed to better understand the root cause of the problem.
He StarlinerAble to carry up to seven people, the cruise lasts approximately 24 hours International Space Station (ISS) However, only two astronauts will travel on this test mission. Pot: Barry Wilmore61 years old, and Sunita Williams, 58 years old. Astronauts will spend a week on board ISSEvaluation of the capsule and its structures.
Problems with Saturday's launch come on top of a series of earlier delays. The launch was originally scheduled for May 6, but was postponed due to a problem with an oxygen valve on the rocket. United Publishing Alliance. Then, on May 25, a helium leak occurred in the service module, forcing the launch to be rescheduled, according to the agency. AP
If the mission is successful, NASA could certify the Starliner to fly routine missions to the ISS. Until now, the US space agency has primarily used SpaceX's Dragon capsule to transport crew and cargo to the space station.
The missions are part of NASA's Commercial Crew program, which aims to use American rockets and capsules to send astronauts and cargo to the ISS in preparation for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The Pot Given to Boeing $4.2 billion contract to develop StarlinerBut due to the delay, the company incurred a loss of $1.5 billion.