Launch of a Boeing crewed spacecraft delayed for safety inspection

Just two hours before takeoff, Boeing's first crewed space mission was canceled for a safety check, according to NASA authorities.

A possible problem with an oxygen relief valve led to the decision to stop, but astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were already in place inside the Starliner.

It was anticipated that the spacecraft would launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral and go to the International Space Station (ISS).

Boeing said in a social media post that a fresh attempt at launch might happen as soon as this Friday.

Delays in the spacecraft's construction have already caused the mission to be postponed for a number of years.

"Remaining steadfast in our efforts to launch tonight," tweeted NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "As I've said before, safety is @NASA's first concern. When we're ready, we go.

Along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, Boeing aims to be the second commercial company to be able to ferry crew members to and from the International Space Station.

With its Dragon capsule, Mr. Musk's firm became the first to do this in 2020, ending almost ten years of US dependence on Russian space rockets.

The first unmanned test flight of the Starliner was supposed to happen in 2015, however it wasn't until 2019. When it did happen, an internal clock fault caused by software bugs caused thrusters to overfire. The capsule ran out of fuel before it could get to the International Space Station.

August 2021 was the intended date of a second attempt, however it was postponed until May 2022. It was determined to be a propulsion system problem. When Starliner did eventually depart Earth, it accomplished its entire mission, but issues with certain rocket performance and the craft's cooling system were brought up.