Boeing’s first attempt to send an uncrewed Starliner to the space station in 2019 failed due to software and engineering glitches. However, a second try in 2022 was successful, allowing for progress towards getting the first crewed test mission off the ground.
A May 6 countdown was stopped just two hours before launch time due to a faulty pressure valve on the Atlas upper stage. This delay was followed by several weeks of further delays caused by engineering problems on the Starliner itself, all of which have since been resolved.
The two-member crew for the mission consisted of NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore, 61, and Sunita “Suni” Williams, 58. They were seated aboard the spacecraft for a couple of hours before launch activities were suspended on Saturday.
Technicians assisted the astronauts out of the capsule safely about an hour after the flight was scrubbed. In the space industry, it is common for countdowns to be halted at the last minute and for launches to be postponed for extended periods, especially when dealing with new spacecraft carrying humans for the first time. These delays are often caused by minor malfunctions or unusual sensor readings.
