How to watch NASA and Boeing’s first Starliner launch
Boeing, NASA, and the United Launch Alliance (ULA) are now targeting a June 2nd, 12:03PM ET crewed launch for Boeing’s Starliner capsule after scrubbing it just minutes before liftoff on June 1st. If the Sunday launch happens, it will be the first time Starliner, which has faced multiple delays, will have flown with human beings on board.
NASA says the ULA is currently investigating why a computer, called a ground launch sequencer, didn’t enter “the correct operational configuration,” triggering an automatic hold. During a press conference afterward, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said the issue was that one of three redundant launch sequencers, which are used to control things like releasing connections to the rocket prior to launch, was slow to respond. He added that if a fix is “as simple as replacing a card,” the launch will happen on the 2nd. Otherwise, the launch will move back to June 5th or 6th.
Leaders from @NASA, @BoeingSpace, and @ulalaunch will host a news conference at 3pm ET to discuss today’s scrubbed launch attempt of the agency’s Crew Flight Test due to an observation of a ground launch sequencer. The system was unsuccessful in verifying the sequencer’s… https://t.co/a1VE1vaHz7
— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) June 1, 2024
The flight is meant to take two US astronauts — Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — up to the International Space Station (ISS), where they will dock (NASA will live stream this, as well). Wilmore and Williams will stay on the station for a week to carry out testing of Starliner and its subsystems prior to NASA’s final certification of the craft for rotational missions to ISS.
Boeing’s Starliner scrubbed its May 6th launch after the United Launch Alliance discovered an issue with a pressure regulation valve in its Atlas V rocket. Starliner also has a helium leak, which NASA has decided not to repair because it doesn’t believe it endangers the mission, and fixing it would involve another lengthy delay. Prior to that, Boeing’s Starliner faced repeated delays and setbacks, including a failed 2019 mission, but finally successfully docked its capsule, unmanned, with the ISS in 2022.
Starliner is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which involves the agency working with private companies to develop novel spacecraft. SpaceX is also part of this program and has launched NASA astronauts since 2020.
You can expect to see the launch on YouTube and the NASA Plus service (an app for which is available on various streaming devices).
Update June 1st, 2024, 3:16PM ET: Updated to reflect that the launch was scrubbed and that there is a new launch target date.