Rick NealeFlorida Today
Scrub recap: Scroll down to review live coverage of the Saturday, June 1, late-countdown scrubbed liftoff of NASA's Boeing Starliner crewed mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. No new launch date set.
No Sunday attempt: Starliner launch scrubs again with less than four minutes to go; computer sequencer blamed
Original story: Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of the first-ever crewed Boeing Starliner launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
After weeks of delays following discoveries of an oxygen leak on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and a helium leak on the spacecraft, crews are targeting 12:25 p.m. EDT for the historic liftoff from Launch Complex 41.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will take flight aboard the Starliner capsule. After reaching low-Earth orbit, they are expected to dock with the International Space Station’s Harmony module about 1:50 p.m. Sunday for a roughly weeklong stay.
The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron forecasts 90% odds of "go for launch" weather today, with ground winds and cumulus clouds posing the primary meteorological threats.
NASA: Scrub triggered by sequencer
Update 1:07 p.m.: NASA Commercial Crew officials announced that the launch scrubbed "due to the computer ground launch sequencer not loading into the correct operational configuration after proceeding into terminal count."
"The ULA team is working to understand the cause. The crew and #Starliner spacecraft remain safe," a tweet said.
Starliner mission scrubbed
Update 12:34 p.m.: Today's launch attempt has been scrubbed.
During a pre-launch press conference, NASA officials said the next backup launch opportunity is 12:03 p.m. Sunday.
If that date does not hold up, crews would stand down for a couple days ahead of launch opportunities Wednesday and Thursday.
Hold!
Update 12:26 p.m.: The countdown was stopped with about three minutes remaining before liftoff.
"Safing of the Atlas V, Starliner and launch pad systems is underway," ULA officials announced in a tweet.
No further details have been released.
Starliner to launch in five minutes
Update 12:20 p.m.: The countdown continues. Five minutes before liftoff from the Cape.
ISS will be over Germany at launch
Update 12:16 p.m.: At time of launch in nine minutes, the ISS will be orbiting 260 miles over western Germany, ULA officials just announced.
Atlas V to be visible along East Coast
Update 12:11 p.m.: ULA officials just re-shared a map on social media that shows areas where — and when — spectators will be able to see the Atlas V as it ascends along its northeasterly trajectory.
Florida Tech salutes Suni Williams
Update 12:04 p.m.: In a morning tweet, Florida Institute of Technology officials sent well wishes to Williams, who earned a master's degree in engineering management in 1995 from the Melbourne-based STEM university.
Starliner launch now 30 minutes away
Update 11:55 a.m.: Thirty minutes remain before Starliner's 12:25 p.m. launch time.
"Right now, the 'T-minus' clock is holding at T-4 minutes. Roughly eight minutes before liftoff, launch control teams will conduct a final go/no-go poll to lift the hold on the T-minus clock exactly four minutes before liftoff. Before the count is resumed, the CFT crew will lower their visors and seal their spacesuits," a Boeing Space blog post said.
"When the hold is lifted, launch teams officially enter what’s known as the terminal count. A number of important milestones will occur, including transitioning Starliner to internal power and arming the launch abort system, which would send the astronauts to safety if there was an issue with the rocket," the post said.
"At T-0, the Atlas V RD-180 main engine and two solid rocket boosters will ignite to generate more than a million and half pounds of thrust to lift the rocket away from the pad. The RD-180 main engine burns 48,800 gallons of liquid oxygen and 25,000 gallons of RP-1 fuel, a highly refined kerosene, to generate 860,300 pounds of thrust," the post said.
Starliner's first flight test details
Update 11:46 a.m.: During their 25-hour trek to the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will kick off flight test activities aboard the Starliner capsule.
"The first test is to demonstrate performance of crew equipment from prelaunch through ascent, including suit and seat performance. During approach, rendezvous, and docking with the station, the Starliner team will assess spacecraft thruster performance for manual abort scenarios, conduct communication checkouts, test manual and automated navigation, and evaluate life support systems," a ULA blog post said.
"Crew aboard the station will monitor the spacecraft's approach and the Starliner crew would command any necessary aborts," the post said.
Starliner launch prep underway in Brevard
Update 11:35 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team.
The new $35.6 millionBrevard County Emergency Management Centerin Rockledge opened this week,
Starliner to mark 100th Atlas V launch
Update 11:24 a.m.: Today's mission will mark the 100th flight of ULA's Atlas V.
"The Atlas V rocket, designated AV-085, that will launch Starliner on its Crew Flight Test uses a launch vehicle configuration unique for this and future Commercial Crew missions. It is distinguished by two stages, two side-mounted solid-fuel boosters, a dual-engine Centaur upper stage and a Launch Vehicle Adapter with aeroskirt to cradle Starliner during ascent," a ULA blog post described.
The Atlas V with Starliner capsule stands 172 feet tall and weighs 979,000 pounds on the pad. The rocket's mission will last 15 minutes from liftoff until spacecraft deployment.
ULA: Valve issue may be resolved
Update 11:06 a.m.: ULA just reported that "the Atlas V launch team implemented a workaround to resolve the ground instrumentation issue with Centaur topping by switching to redundant circuitry."
Accordingly, "Centaur topping has resumed. And with that, approval has been radioed to close the Starliner hatch for flight," per a blog update.
ULA working on valve issue
Update 10:54 a.m.: ULA launch commentator Dillon Rice provided an update on the Centaur valves, which control replenishment of oxygen and hydrogen on the upper stage.
"We stopped getting some data from those valves. And the team has talked through the troubleshooting steps to switch to our redundant control circuitry on those valves. So we'll be using the same valves on the mobile launch platform, but just using our redundant control circuitry," Rice said during the NASA TV broadcast.
Rice said technicians are simulating that activity in ULA's laboratory prior to performing it on the pad to double-verify procedures for switching to redundant control circuits.
"For now, the rocket remains stable. Again, the only impact here is that we're not currently replenishing propellant on Centaur. But with our schedule today, we do have quite a bit of time to get this issue resolved," he said.
ULA analyzing Centaur valve solution
Update 10:35 a.m.: Quick update from ULA officials two minutes ago: "A solution to the Centaur instrumentation issue is being analyzed."
Crews are not topping Centaur with propellant in light of the issue.
Starliner hatch door closure delayed
Update 10:28 a.m.: A radio message from Mission Control in Houston to the astronauts inside the capsule:
"Just giving you an update. ULA is working an issue with a Centaur topping valve. There are no safety concerns. We're monitoring it. We'll let you know where it goes. But that's the reason for the delay on hatch closure," the message said.
Crews troubleshooting Centaur valve
Update 10:11 a.m.: Technicians are troubleshooting an unspecified issue with a valve on the Centaur upper stage.
"The launch team is troubleshooting the indication of a problem with the topping to Centaur's cryogenic tanks," ULA officials said in a 10:10 a.m. update.
No safety concerns are expected, according to radio chatter among launch personnel.
Astronaut Hall of Fame ceremony to begin
Update 10 a.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Brooke Edwards is at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to cover the upcoming Astronaut Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The event was moved up from 11 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in light of the Starliner launch. Retired NASA astronauts Marsha Ivins, who flew on five space shuttle missions, and David Hilmers, who flew to space four times, are the 2024 inductees.
Boeing: Helium leak not an issue
Update 9:50 a.m.: In a 9:21 a.m. tweet update, Boeing Space officials said, "teams have confirmed that the small #Starliner helium leak rate remains acceptable for flight, in fact better than previously observed."
NASA astronauts boarding Starliner
Update 9:40 a.m.: After ascending an elevator to Level 12 of the crew access tower, Wilmore and Williams are settling into their seats inside the Starliner capsule atop the Atlas V.
Starliner's favorable weather forecast
Update 9:30 a.m.: Details from the 45th Weather Squadron's 90% "go for launch" forecast:
"For the primary launch window, that (large area of high pressure) is expected to be near the North Carolina coast, bringing breezy, easterly winds and dry, stable air to the spaceport," the forecast said.
"Weather is expected to be favorable, with winds and the Cumulus Cloud Rule being the primary concerns," the forecast said.
At liftoff time, ULA officials announced a few clouds should be present, with easterly winds of 18 to 26 knots and a temperature near 82 degrees.
Astronauts greet relatives, wave goodbye
Update 9:13 a.m.: Wilmore and Williams walked outside the Neil Armstrong Operations&CheckoutBuilding, where they waved to relatives and flashed thumbs-up before boarding Boeing's "Astrovan" crew transport vehicle at 9:05 a.m. en route to Launch Complex 41.
The duo have been living in quarantine since April 22.
"That's been a long time. They were allowed to see their family, but from a distance. So this is as close as they've been for a while," Mike Fincke, NASA astronaut and Starliner backup test pilot, said during the NASA TV broadcast.
"But we do really respect the health stabilization program. We don't want our friends aboard the space station to get sick and impact their mission, for sure," Fincke said.
NASA astronauts to head to launch pad
Update 8:55 a.m.: FLORIDA TODAY Photographer/Videographer Craig Bailey is in position outside the Neil Armstrong Operations&CheckoutBuildingat Kennedy Space Center, waiting for Wilmore and Williams to emerge, greet family members and board Boeing's "Astrovan" crew transport vehicle to head to Launch Complex 41.
ULA CEO: 'Good day to go to space'
Update 8:45 a.m.: In a tweet more than two hours ago, ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno delivered an optimistic message about today's mission.
"The weather looks good ... Atlas is standing tall , strong, and proud ... The sun rises above. ... Feels like a good day to go to space."
Astronauts suiting up for launch
Update 8:30 a.m.: Wilmore and Williams are suiting up for the upcoming launch inside the Neil Armstrong Operations&CheckoutBuildingat Kennedy Space Center.
"Oh, boy. Butch and Suni are excited for today. As astronauts, especially Butch and Suni: consummate professionals, test pilots. So they've got their steely-eyed game faces on. But inside, they are excited for today," Fincke said during the NASA TV broadcast.
Fincke, who spoke to Wilmore and Williams late last night, described them as the "tip of the spear" of a large group of people who have worked on the mission for a long time.
"They are very excited to go do their part for this test flight, and to get Starliner certified and be the first of many Starliner flights. So they are excited and ready to go," Fincke said.
NASA TV live coverage begins
Update 8:15 a.m.: NASA TV has kicked off live coverage of the upcoming Starliner launch.
The link is now posted at the top of this page.
Rocket fueling in 'topping mode'
Update 8 a.m.: ULA crews started fueling the rocket's Centaur upper stage with liquid oxygen roughly an hour and a half ago.
Now, fueling of the Atlas V "has entered topping mode to give us a 979,000-pound (444,000-kg) rocket that is getting ready for launch," ULA officials said in a 7:45 a.m. tweet.
For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visitfloridatoday.com/space.
Rick Nealeis a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X:@RickNeale1
