CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing’s first crewed space launch will be postponed until late next week because of a problem with a valve on the rocket that needs to be replaced.
The countdown was suspended Monday night after a pressure release valve on the upper stage of the Atlas V rocket opened and closed so quickly and so many times that it created a loud humming sound. United Launch Alliance engineers determined Tuesday that the valve has exceeded its design limit and must be removed, which will postpone liftoff until at least May 17.
The NASA astronauts assigned to the Starliner capsule test flight to the International Space Station — Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — will remain at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The first manned flight of the Starliner has already been delayed for years due to several problems with the capsule.
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