CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The highly anticipated first crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft faced a last-minute setback when an automatic abort occurred just minutes before liftoff on June 1, 2024. The spacecraft, atop its Atlas V rocket, was less than 4 minutes away from launching two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The ground launch sequencer computer triggered the automatic abort 3 minutes and 50 seconds before liftoff. However, the exact cause of the glitch remains unclear. NASA spokesperson Derrol Nail stated during launch commentary that the reason for the hold was not known at that time.
Troubled History
Boeing's Starliner, part of a $4.2 billion contract with NASA's Commercial Crew Program, has faced numerous delays over the past few years. The recent Crewed Flight Test (CFT) had previously attempted and failed to get off the ground twice. On May 6, an attempt was scrubbed due to issues with the valves in the launch vehicle's Atlas Centaur upper stage. Mission operators had to roll the rocket back to ULA's Vertical Integration Facility for repairs.
Countdown Hiccups
The countdown for this historic launch experienced its own hiccups. Valve communication issues with Atlas V's ground systems were temporarily lost about two hours before the scheduled liftoff. Additionally, astronaut Butch Wilmore reported a fan warning light in his spacesuit with less than 11 minutes remaining before launch.
Next Launch Attempt
If Boeing and the United Launch Alliance (ULA) can resolve the glitch in time, they plan to attempt another launch on Sunday, June 2. The targeted liftoff time is 12:03 p.m. EDT (1603 GMT). Stay tuned for live updates on our social media handles.
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