NASA and Boeing postpone Starliner OFT-2 mission

The Boeing Starliner OFT-2 mission, which was originally scheduled to be launched on July 31, local time, will be postponed until at least August 3 because of an accident at the destination’s International Space Station, and then depending on the situation to see if it can be launched.

The source of this accident was the Russian Nauka module launched on July 21. After docking with the International Space Station, due to a software error, the propeller on board ignited itself, pushing the entire space station away from its normal posture. The engineers on the ground first used the thrusters on other modules to counter the thrust of Nauka, and when Nauka ran out of fuel, they recalibrated the posture of the International Space Station. But this accident suspended all activities on the space station, naturally including the Starliner that was originally scheduled to launch earlier today.

NASA stated that it will use the extra four days to continue to check the normal operation of the Nauka module and ensure that the space station is ready for the arrival of Starliner, while Boeing is considering whether to use the Starliner and the ULA Atlas V rocket that is responsible for carrying it. Push back to the rocket’s vertical assembly facility. Although the two staying on the launch pad for four days will not affect the mission, returning them to the facility can still protect them from accidental weather damage.

It can be said that Boeing’s Starliner has experienced various difficulties at present. I hope that the scheduled test project can be completed smoothly after the actual launch.