{"id":10120,"date":"2024-05-08T19:06:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T11:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/atlas-5-valve-repair-will-delay-starliners-first-crewed-mission-to-may-17-at-the-earliest\/"},"modified":"2024-05-08T19:06:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T11:06:55","slug":"atlas-5-valve-repair-will-delay-starliners-first-crewed-mission-to-may-17-at-the-earliest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/atlas-5-valve-repair-will-delay-starliners-first-crewed-mission-to-may-17-at-the-earliest\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlas 5 valve repair will delay Starliner\u2019s first crewed mission to May 17 at the earliest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 N22 rocket with Boeing\u2019s Starliner spacecraft on top as seen the day before its planned May 6 launch. A problematic valve in the Centaur upper stage of the rocket caused the mission to scrub two hours before liftoff. Image: Michael Cain\/Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boeing\u2019s Starliner spacecraft is going to have a wait a bit longer before its first astronaut mission can take place. Following the decision to scrub the Crew Flight Test mission about two hours prior to liftoff, teams with United Launch Alliance (ULA), Boeing and NASA concluded that more work was needed to prepare the Atlas 5 to launch.<\/p>\n

In order to do that, the rocket will need to be rolled back to the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) at Space Launch Complex 41. The anticipated timeline for the work will push the launch back to no earlier than May 17, according to NASA. The new liftoff time is now 6:16 p.m. EDT (2016 UTC).<\/p>\n

During a post-scrub news briefing, ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno discussed an issue with a liquid oxygen self-regulating solenoid relief valve on the Centaur upper stage of the rocket, which created an audible buzzing noise heard by crew working at the launch pad. He said the valve vents pressure from the liquid oxygen tank and is \u201cnot dissimilar to many other valves like that,\u201d adding that homeowners \u201chave one in your home on your hot water tank.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bruno said that if the valve needed to be replaced, the Atlas 5 rocket would need to make a return to the VIF. However, he noted that the work to replace the valve likely wouldn\u2019t require them to unstack the Starliner spacecraft.<\/p>\n

He said because the Centaur upper stage is \u201ca pressure-stabilized stage it has to be either stretched or under pressure to be structurally stable,\u201d and therefore, they could use some tooling to stretch it in the VIF. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d apply that tooling to support the Centaur and the Starliner on top and then we take off all the pressure and simply remove and replace the valve, re-pressurize it, remove the tooling and then we\u2019d be ready to roll back,\u201d Bruno said. \u201cThat procedure takes several days, so it\u2019s unlikely we would be prepared to make another attempt before Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n