Boeing Starliner Misses Space Station Orbit Due to Timer Glitch
Boeing's uncrewed Starliner capsule fails to reach the International Space Station after a clock malfunction causes an incorrect engine burn. NASA officials confirm that astronauts would have been safe and able to correct the issue if they were on board.
Boeing's new Starliner capsule experiences a significant setback during its maiden uncrewed flight as it fails to reach the correct orbit to dock with the International Space Station. The spacecraft launches flawlessly from Cape Canaveral, Florida, but a malfunctioning onboard clock causes the capsule's computer to fire its engines incorrectly about thirty minutes after liftoff.
This unplanned engine burn consumes too much fuel, leaving the Starliner in a stable but incorrect altitude for its planned rendezvous. The capsule currently carries 600 pounds of cargo for what serves as a critical dress rehearsal before a potential crewed mission next year.
NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine reassures the public that astronauts would have remained completely safe if they were aboard the spacecraft. Test pilots like NASA astronaut Nicole Mann explain they train extensively for this exact type of contingency and could have manually taken control to salvage the docking mission.