By Sunita Williams’ third mission to space scheduled to take off today.
Photo : ANI
NASA and Boeing are preparing for a crucial third attempt to launch the Crew Flight Test mission, which will send astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft. The scheduled liftoff is set for June 5 at 8:22 PM IST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, using a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
This mission is vital for Boeing and NASA as it serves as the final test before the Starliner can start regular crew rotation flights to the ISS. The spacecraft is intended to stay at the space station for about a week, with Williams and Wilmore putting the Starliner through a series of tests to ensure its readiness for future missions.
The first two launch attempts on June 1 and 2 were called off due to technical issues. On June 1, a ground launch sequencer computer had a slow start-up, which violated safety protocols and automatically aborted the launch just minutes before liftoff. The next day, a faulty ground power supply unit was identified as the cause of another hold in the launch process. Over the weekend, ULA replaced the faulty hardware, resolving the issue.
NASA stated, “The ULA launch team identified an issue with a single ground power supply that encountered issues during the countdown and scrubbed the June 1 launch attempt. On Sunday, the chassis containing the faulty ground power unit was replaced, and ULA confirmed all hardware is performing normally.”
With the ground systems now operating as expected, NASA, Boeing, and ULA are moving forward with the third launch attempt on June 5. The launch window opens at 10:52 AM ET (8:22 PM IST) and will last for 120 minutes. Weather forecasts indicate an 80% chance of favourable conditions for liftoff.
If the launch is successful, the Starliner capsule, named “Calypso,” will dock with the space station approximately 24 hours after launch. Williams and Willmore will stay on the ISS for eight days, conducting various tests on the new spacecraft. After their stay, the Starliner will undock and return to Earth, landing with parachute assistance in the western United States.
Despite the frustration caused by the delays, these setbacks highlight the critical importance of meeting all safety criteria before launching astronauts into space. As teams prepare for the third attempt, they remain vigilant to ensure every system is “go” for this high-stakes mission. Success in this mission will mark a significant milestone in NASA’s efforts to maintain a consistent presence on the ISS with the help of commercial partners like Boeing.
