JNS: The highly anticipated lift-off of the Boeing Starliner, set to carry astronaut Sunita Williams to space for the third time, has been postponed due to a technical issue. The Starliner was scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida’s Cape Canaveral at 8:04 am India time.
However, just 90 minutes before lift-off, the launch of the Atlas V rocket was called off. NASA announced that an off-nominal condition on an oxygen relief valve was the reason behind the delay.
Both Sunita Williams and NASA’s Barry Wilmore, who were prepared to fly the Starliner to the International Space Station (ISS), safely exited the spacecraft following the postponement.
The delay comes as a disappointment for Williams, who was looking forward to her third space mission. The Starliner mission is of significant importance for NASA and Boeing, aiming to demonstrate the spacecraft’s capabilities to transport astronauts to and from the ISS.
Despite the setback, NASA and Boeing engineers are working diligently to resolve the technical glitch and reschedule the launch at the earliest possible opportunity. The safety of the astronauts and the success of the mission remain the top priorities for both organizations.
