Faulty Atlas V Valve Leads to Rescheduling of NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station has been postponed to no earlier than May 17 due to a faulty valve in the Atlas V rocket’s upper stage. The United Launch Alliance will replace the valve after discovering issues during prelaunch checks. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams remain in quarantine at NASA Kennedy, awaiting the next launch opportunity.

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test now is targeted to launch no earlier than 6:16 p.m. EDT Friday, May 17, to the International Space Station. Following a thorough data review completed on Tuesday, ULA (United Launch Alliance) decided to replace a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank on the Atlas V rocket’s Centaur upper stage.