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BOEING STARLINER OFT-2 RETRY LAUNCH, May 19, 2022, Cape Canaveral, FL, 6:54 pm ET

Update, May 11, 2022:  Following the Flight Readiness Review today, NASA and Boeing again confirmed they are targeting launch for May 19 at 6:54 pm ET. It if takes place at that time, it would dock with the ISS on May 20 at 6:57 pm ET.

The backup launch day is May 20 at 6:32 pm ET, with docking on May 21 at 6:21 pm ET.

Update, May 3, 2022: During a media teleconference today, NASA officials confirmed they are targeting May 19 at 6:54 pm ET for launch.

Update, April 14, 2022: NASA and Boeing have announced the launch date is May 19 at 6:54 pm ET. That is 9.5 months after the original attempt to launch this uncrewed OFT-2 mission (August 3, 2021) was scrubbed because 13 valves in the Starliner propulsion system did not open when it was on the launch pad about two hours prior to launch. This OFT-2 mission is repeating the original December 2019 OFT flight that was only partially successful.

Update, January 19, 2022:  At a meeting of the NASA Advisory Council’s Human Exploration and Operations Committee, Steve Stich, NASA Commercial Crew Program manager, said they are looking at dates in May 2022 for this launch.

CBS News space reporter Bill Harwood then tweeted that his sources say the tentative day is around May 20, so we are using that as a placeholder for now, but it is NOT confirmed.


Update, August 13, 2021:  The launch has been postponed indefinitely.

Update, August 3, 10:35 am ET:  Boeing just tweeted that the launch has been scrubbed for today. The reason was not provided or when the next attempt may be.

Update July 31:  NASA confirms the new launch date/time is August 3 at 1:20 pm ET.  NASA TV coverage begins 12:30 pm ET.

Update July 29:  the launch has been postponed because of difficulties experienced by Russia’s Nauka module when it docked with ISS today. The new plan is to launch OFT-2 on August 3 at 1:20 pm EDT/

Update, July 16:  NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin at 2:00 pm ET on July 30.  A post-launch press conference is scheduled for approximately 4:00 pm ET.

[Three pre-launch press conferences are scheduled for July 22, July 27, and July 29.  See our separate calendar entries for more information.]

Update, June 16:  Boeing and NASA confirm launch is scheduled for July 30 at 2:53 pm ET.

Update, May 6:  The new date and time are July 30, 2021 at 2:53 pm ET (pending range approval).  Boeing’s statement is as follows:

Boeing and NASA Update Launch Target for Next Starliner Test Flight

Boeing and NASA are targeting 2:53 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, July 30, for the launch of Starliner’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2, or OFT-2, mission to the International Space Station pending range approval. The updated launch target is supported by the space station visiting vehicle schedule and availability of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

Boeing will continue preparing the Crew Flight Test vehicle for flight until launch activities involving the OFT-2 vehicle, such as loading cargo and fueling the spacecraft, are scheduled to begin. Boeing recently completed end-to-end testing of Starliner’s flight software by flying a five-day simulated OFT-2 mission with operations teams and the highest-fidelity hardware. Boeing will continue supporting NASA’s post-test reviews and has submitted all OFT-2 verification and validation paperwork. All actions recommended by the Boeing/NASA Joint Independent Review Team as a result of Starliner’s first test flight are complete and pending closure.

Boeing is committed to safely and sustainably transporting crew and cargo to and from low Earth orbit destinations. Boeing is flying the OFT-2 mission at no cost to NASA or the taxpayer to demonstrate confidence in the Starliner vehicle and showcase the integrated team’s operational excellence ahead of crewed flight.

Update, March 4:  NASA said today the launch will not take place in April. A new date was not set.

Update, March 1:  NASA said at a briefing today (re the upcoming Crew-2 mission) that the OFT-2 launch will not take place on April 2.  A new date has not been set.  The delay is due largely to the fact that software testing was delayed by the severe winter storm in Texas that took out power throughout the state. Caused about a 2-week delay for OFT-2 readiness and now have to find a slot in the ISS traffic schedule to launch it. Have a Soyuz launch and Crew-2 launch coming up.

Update, February 17: Boeing has delayed the launch to April 2 in this long-winded statement that doesn’t disclose that fact until literally the last line.

Update, January 25:  Boeing has moved the No-Earlier-Than (NET)  launch date UP four days, to March 25.  The company explained via email that:

The Boeing Starliner second uncrewed flight test is now scheduled to launch four days earlier.

NASA and Boeing are targeting March 25 for the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2).

The date change was made possible by:

  • An opening on the Eastern Range
  • Availability of the ULA Atlas V rocket
  • Progress on the spacecraft hardware and software
  • Docking opportunity on the ISS

Original Entry: NASA and Boeing have announced that Boeing will launch the second Orbital Flight Test (OFT-2) of its Starliner commercial crew spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight on March 29, 2021.  The first OFT was not completely successful in December 2019 and the company decided a reflight is needed before putting astronauts aboard.

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Details

Date:
May 19, 2022
Time:
6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Last Updated: May 11, 2022 6:43 pm ET

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