The Boeing Starliner’s journey to the International Space Station has hit one other hurdle. The craft was scheduled for a second uncrewed check flight to the ISS at this time, July thirtieth, after its first try went awry again in late 2019. But, it should wait a bit longer for take off. NASA and Boeing have determined to push back the launch to the tentative date of Tuesday, August third.
The delay comes after the thrusters on the ISS’ new Russian module Nauka unintentionally activated inflicting the station to maneuver out of orientation. Though floor groups managed to regain management and movement of the ISS, NASA is continuing with warning.
“The International Space Station team will use the time to continue working checkouts of the newly arrived Roscosmos Nauka multipurpose laboratory module and to ensure the station will be ready for Starliner’s arrival,” the company stated in an announcement.
The completion of the second check flight is a essential a part of the Starliner’s improvement part that will likely be adopted by the primary of six crew rotation missions. NASA added that launch preparations would resume pending a remaining resolution from the ISS and Commercial Crew Program groups.
In the meantime, employees are assessing whether or not to maneuver the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket — atop which the Starliner is positioned — from the launch pad on the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station again to the Vehicle Integration Facility. While each are mission-ready, the transfer is seen as a mitigation measure to guard them from climate injury.
The delay is the most recent in a sequence of setbacks which have up to now prevented the Starliner from reaching the ISS. In December 2019, the Boeing craft suffered an automation situation throughout its first check flight that induced it to overlook its deliberate orbit. While the second check flight has been held up since late final 12 months because of ongoing software program checks.
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