Boeing's first astronaut launch is off until late next week to replace a bad rocket valve
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing’s first astronaut launch is off until late next week because of a bad valve in the rocket that needs to be replaced.
The countdown was halted Monday night after a pressure-relief valve in the Atlas V rocket’s upper stage opened and closed so quickly and so many times that it created a loud buzz. Engineers for United Launch Alliance determined Tuesday that the valve has exceeded its design limit and must now be removed, pushing liftoff to no earlier than May 17.
The NASA astronauts assigned to the Starliner capsule’s test flight to the International Space Station — Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — will remain at Cape Canaveral.
Starliner’s first crew flight already is years behind schedule because of a multitude of capsule problems.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Related articles
MLB warns teams against encouraging players to withdraw from high schools to avoid amateur draft
CHICAGO (AP) — Major League Baseball has warned its teams against encouraging players to withdraw fr2024-05-0811 killed in suspected IS attack in Syrian desert region: war monitor
An attack by suspected Islamic State (IS) militants killed at least 11 people in the desert region o2024-05-08China to step up financial support for green development
Chinese authorities have issued guidelines to strengthen the financial support for green and low-car2024-05-08Pache's single, Harper's catch in 10th inning lift Phillies past Rockies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cristian Pache hit a walk-off single with one out in the 10th inning after Bryce2024-05-08China's telecoms industry expands steadily in Q1
BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China's telecommunications industry registered steady expansion in the fi2024-05-082 injured in restaurant blast in China's Jiangsu
Two people were injured after a blast occurred at a restaurant in Huai'an City, east China's2024-05-08
atest comment