YouTube / NASA
Boeing’s recent string of incidents keeps growing … ’cause the company was set to send astronauts into space — before canceling the launch with just minutes to go.
The Boeing Starliner — a spacecraft heading to the International Space Station — aimed to launch at 12:25 PM ET Saturday, but with 3:50 left on the clock, they called off the whole mission … and, the disappointing moment’s caught on video.
UPDATE: Steve Sitch, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, says during a press conference that “a problem with the ground launch sequencer” is to blame for today’s postponed Boeing Starliner launch. pic.twitter.com/4VNmtgsgei
— Jaden Jefferson (@Jaden_Reports) June 1, 2024
@Jaden_Reports
Check out the clip … everything’s primed and ready to go when someone on comms mentions some issue flight control picked up on. There’s some waiting around for a bit before the whole thing’s called off.
Program Manager Steve Stich described the issue as a “problem with the ground launch sequencer” in the post-scrub press conference … though a physical investigation of the craft needs to take place before they can say anything definitive.
Of course, everyone’s followed Boeing’s woes this year … with videos of multiple planes experiencing extreme turbulence, losing parts and even catching fire making the rounds on social media.
4/20/23
That said, space travel’s a whole different ballgame, and even the smallest issues can halt a launch — just ask Elon Musk and SpaceX — so, no one should jump to any conclusions. But, it certainly isn’t a great look for the company.
5/20/24
BTW … not the first time the Starliner’s been stopped from launching. It was also scrubbed back on May 6 when engineers detected an issue with a pressure-relief valve.
Bottom line … it’s rocket science, so it definitely ain’t easy — and, Boeing just can’t seem to catch a break.