Boeing delays first crewed ISS launch on Starliner capsule until 2024

A successful manned test flight is mandatory before aerospace company can begin commercial operations

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  The Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule lands at the White Sands Space Harbour in New Mexico on May 25, 2020. EPA / Nasa

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  Boeing completed a key test of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for Nasa in 2020, after it successfully docked with the International Space Station and landed back on Earth safely. Photo: NASA via AP

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  In this handout video grab courtesy of NASA TV, Boeing's Starliner capsule (L) docks with the International Space Station (ISS) on May 20, 2022. - Boeing's Starliner capsule was preparing to dock with the International Space Station May 20, 2022, in a high-stakes uncrewed test flight key to reviving the US aerospace giant's reputation after a series of failures (Photo by NASA TV / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NASA TV" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

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  Boeing’s Starliner capsule landed back on Earth after a successful docking with the International Space Station. Photo: NASA via AP

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  A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo: AFP / Nasa

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  With this recent test, it means Boeing could be launching astronauts for Nasa by end of this year. The company is contracted by the US space agency to send its astronauts to the space station, in a deal similar to Nasa’s arrangement with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Photo: AFP / Nasa

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  This was the company’s second flight test, after the first one in 2019 failed to dock with the orbiting laboratory due to software glitches. Photo: Nasa

Boeing has postponed its first crewed launch on its Starliner capsule until March, as it continues to work on technical issues.

The aerospace company is contracted by Nasa to launch its astronauts to the International Space Station, but several delays have kept Boeing from beginning commercial operations.

Only SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft can launch astronauts from the US as of now, but Nasa also has agreements with Russia on using their Soyuz capsule to send astronauts to the ISS.

The Starliner spacecraft would help give Nasa another transportation method to orbit, as well as help Boeing launch private missions.

A crewed test flight was meant to take place on July 21, but that was pushed back after issues were discovered with the capsule's parachute system and wiring.

During a virtual media briefing held on Monday, officials said a launch this year is not going to happen.

"Based on current plans, we're anticipating that we're going to be ready with the spacecraft in early March," said Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner vice president and programme manager.

"That does not mean that we have a launch date in early March, that means that we are ready with the spacecraft.

"We're now working with the Nasa Commercial Crew Programme, ISS and ULA (United Launch Alliance – the rocket the spacecraft would blast off on) on potential launch dates based and our readiness."

Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are training to fly on the first crewed test flight to the ISS on the Starliner.

Joel Montalbano, ISS programme manager at Nasa, said that Boeing will be an important addition to the agency's commercial crew programme.

"I'll tell you from an ISS standpoint, the Starliner vehicle remains a high priority to the space station programme," he said.

"And as Mark said, when the Boeing team, the Commercial Crew Programme, ULA are ready, it's my job to go find a slot on ISS and that's the plan.

"So having a second crew provider is very important to the agency and to our programmes and that's something that we are working hard to make sure that we achieve from an ISS standpoint."

The start of commercial operations could also help space nations with new astronaut programmes that are looking for more access to space.

Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey would benefit from more transportation methods to low-Earth orbit as they are non-ISS partners and do not have their own rockets.

Apart from launching missions for Nasa, SpaceX has also used its launch capabilities to send private missions to space, including to the orbiting outpost.

Saudi Arabia launched two astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al Qarni, on a SpaceX rocket through a trip that was arranged by Axiom Space – a space infrastructure company based in Houston, Texas.

Boeing has already completed an uncrewed test flight to the space station last year when a Starliner capsule launched from Florida and docked at the ISS 24 hours later.

The launch came almost three years after a failed test flight in 2019 that foiled the spacecraft's ability to reach the space station, owing to a software glitch.