Boeing Starliner launch scrubbed

SpaceX set to launch Starlink satellites from Florida

ULA scrubs launch of Boeing Starliner to space station

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying an uncrewed Boeing Starliner capsule was scrubbed from its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2023. The launch was called off due to a problem with the rocket's second stage engine.

The launch was the first of two uncrewed test flights of the Starliner capsule, which is designed to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The second test flight is scheduled for later this year, and if both flights are successful, the Starliner could begin carrying astronauts to the space station as early as 2024.

The scrub is the latest in a series of setbacks for Boeing's commercial crew program. The company has been plagued by delays and technical problems, and it is now more than two years behind schedule in delivering the Starliner to NASA.

The scrub is a major setback for Boeing, which is eager to prove that the Starliner is ready to carry astronauts. The company has invested billions of dollars in the program, and it is counting on the Starliner to help it compete with SpaceX for NASA contracts.

The scrub is also a setback for NASA, which is eager to have a second commercial crew provider to help transport astronauts to and from the space station. NASA is currently relying on SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule for all of its astronaut transportation needs, and the agency is concerned about the risk of relying on a single provider.

The scrub is a reminder of the challenges of developing and operating a commercial crew spacecraft. Boeing is a major aerospace company with a long history of success, but it has struggled to develop the Starliner on time and on budget.

It is unclear when the next launch attempt will be made. ULA said it is working to resolve the issue with the rocket's second stage engine and will provide an update on the launch schedule as soon as possible.