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.
Too much water, and not enough: Brazil's flooded south struggles to find basic goods
Gisele Bundchen's former Manhattan townhouse is back on the market for a whopping $17 million
First Chinese scientist to publish COVID
Lionel Richie, 74, and girlfriend Lisa Parigi, 34, enjoy dinner date in Los Angeles
Recreational marijuana backers try to overcome rocky history in South Dakota
Sam Fender drops a major hint about his upcoming third studio album
Adames powers Brewers past Rays 8
Australia invest $599 million to financially support women, children escaping violence
Cliffs that sport mystical tattoos
General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn defends former co