Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft launch, which was scheduled to carry NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Bary Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS), was called off because of a technical glitch in the valve of the rocket.
Why was the mission aborted?
NASA has notified on its social media platform X that the issue was detected in the oxygen valve which is part of the ULA’s Atlas 5 rocket. Boeing, ULA, and the Space Agency have abolished the launch which was slated to take place on Monday (May 6)because of a malfunctioned oxygen relief valve on the second stage of Atlas V rocket Centaur.
Tom Heter III, the director of rocket company United Launch Alliance announced a delay of two hours in the launch before the scheduled take-off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station situated in Florida.
The Atlas 5 rocket is known for its credibility and was all geared up for its 100th flight. The rocket was supposed to launch Boeing’s Crew Space Transportation Starliner spacecraft into orbit. According to the ULA’s plan, after the separation from Atlas 5, Starliner engines will burn out and the rest of it will be carried to orbit as well to the International Space Station.
All about Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore
Indian origin Sunita Williams has experience of spending a total of 322 days in space for two missions respectively. She has also gathered 50 hours and 40 minutes of total Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA ) time on seven spacewalks. She was chosen by NASA in the year 1998. On the contrary, Barry Wilmore has spent almost 178 days in space and has recorded 25 hours and 36 minutes on four spacewalks.
As per NASA, the rocket and the crew are safe and sound and they will share more information regarding the development soon.
(With inputs from ANI)