Boeing counts down again to its first astronaut launch on a long-delayed test flight for NASA
Boeing is taking another crack at launching astronauts for the first time aboard its new space capsule, after a delay for leak checks and rocket repairs
By Marcia Dunn
Published - Jun 01, 2024, 07:10 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 01, 2024, 07:10 AM EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing took another crack Saturday at launching astronauts for the first time aboard its new space capsule, after a delay for leak checks and rocket repairs.
The company’s Starliner capsule was due to rocket away at midday with a pair of test pilots to the International Space Station for a weeklong stay.
The test drive should have happened years ago. But problems kept piling up, most recently a leak that went unnoticed until the first launch attempt with a crew in early May.
NASA wants a backup to SpaceX, which has been flying astronauts for four years.
