Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Mission Scrubbed Due to Mechanical Issue
Boeing’s highly anticipated Starliner crewed mission was unfortunately scrubbed on Monday night due to a mechanical issue involving the liquid oxygen self-regulating solenoid relief valve on the Centaur upper stage. The United Launch Alliance, responsible for the launch, has set a new launch date for May 17th at 6:16 p.m.
In order to address the issue, ULA has decided to replace a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank on the Atlas V rocket’s Centaur upper stage. This means the rocket will need to be rolled back to its Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for the valve replacement, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The scrub was caused by oscillating behavior in the valve during prelaunch operations, highlighting the importance of thorough testing and maintenance in space missions. While the Starliner vehicle itself is considered reliable, officials have noted that the launch parameters are different now that humans are on board.
The primary purpose of the mission remains the same – to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems, including maneuvering and docking capabilities, before NASA certifies it for rotational missions. Despite the setback, both Boeing and ULA are working diligently to ensure a successful launch on the new scheduled date. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting mission on Poh Diaries.
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