A crucial test for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft failed after it was unable to maintain the correct course during an unmanned flight.
The company anticipates bringing the spacecraft back to Earth after the misfire but said it would take a couple of days. Friday’s initial launch of Starliner was successful, but Boeing encountered problems after it detached from the rocket.
The spacecraft was supposed to make a maneuver that would have put it on a precise course with the International Space Station for a Saturday docking. Because of the misfire, Starliner will exit its orbit and land in New Mexico in two days.
Starliner officials said that they are not yet sure of the exact issue that caused the mistake.
“Starliner has an off-nominal insertion, but we have spacecraft control. The guidance and control team is assessing their next maneuver,” Boeing Space said in a tweet.
Starliner has an off-nominal insertion, but we have spacecraft control. The guidance and control team is assessing their next maneuver.
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) December 20, 2019
Friday’s mission was meant to be a test of the craft before humans are put inside to pilot it. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said before the mission that he expected the spacecraft would be the first crewed mission to launch from the United States since the space shuttle program was shuttered in 2011.
It isn’t clear if Boeing’s Starliner will now be the first manned spacecraft to be launched from the U.S., as Elon Musk’s SpaceX is also competing to do so. NASA gave Boeing $4.2 billion and SpaceX $2.6 billion for the Commercial Crew Program.
Since the closure of the space shuttle program, the U.S. has paid Russia about $55.4 million to send astronauts up to the space station.
