Boeing's Starliner Crew Capsule Fails Launch Again

Another Setback for Boeing's Commercial Crew Program

Critical Safety Milestone Test Ends in Automatic Abort

The highly anticipated first crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has been delayed yet again, this time due to an automatic abort during a critical safety test. The Boeing CST-100 Starliner crewed vehicle was scheduled to launch on Monday, November 4, 2022, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. However, an automatic abort triggered by the launch abort system prevented the spacecraft from reaching orbit, marking another setback for Boeing's commercial crew program.

The abort occurred shortly after the spacecraft's Atlas V rocket ignited, sending Starliner into a roll. The launch abort system, designed to protect the crew in the event of an emergency, activated and propelled the capsule away from the rocket. The capsule landed safely in the Atlantic Ocean, and the crew was recovered without incident.

Boeing and NASA engineers are now investigating the cause of the abort. The failure of the launch abort system is a significant setback for Boeing, which has been working to certify Starliner for crewed missions to the International Space Station. The company had hoped to conduct the first crewed flight of Starliner by the end of the year, but this latest delay will likely push that timeline back.