Updates: Boeing Starliner experiences delay, China introduces new rocket variant, and SpaceX continues to launch additional Starlink satellites.
In a week of highly anticipated launches, two new spacecraft were set to take to the skies: Boeing’s crewed Starliner spacecraft and the first Chang Zheng 6C rocket from China. However, both launches faced delays and rescheduling due to technical issues.
The launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was scheduled to be the first crewed launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station since the Apollo era. However, an issue with an oxygen relief valve on the Centaur upper stage of the launch vehicle caused a delay. The flight is now expected to take place no earlier than May 17, after the replacement of the faulty part.
The Chang Zheng 6C rocket, a dual-engine variant of China’s CZ-6 rocket, was also set to launch this week. It successfully launched approximately an hour after Starliner was originally scheduled to launch. The rocket carried several satellites, including the Haiwangxing-01 satellite, the first of a planned constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites.
Meanwhile, SpaceX continued its busy launch schedule with multiple Starlink missions. One Starlink mission launched on Monday, with two more scheduled for Wednesday and possibly another on Sunday. SpaceX has been steadily increasing its launch frequency and could potentially exceed the 12 launches per month seen in March and April.
This week also marked significant milestones for SpaceX. The WorldView Legion mission achieved the 300th successful deployment of payload into orbit since the AMOS-6 pad anomaly in September 2016. Additionally, SpaceX recovered a fairing half from a record 16th flight, bringing the total number of fairings recovered to 430.
Looking ahead, SpaceX has several more launches planned for the remainder of May. These include more Starlink missions as well as missions for the National Reconnaissance Office and the European and Japanese Space Agencies.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is eagerly awaited for its maiden crewed launch. Once it successfully completes its Crewed Flight Test mission, it will be certified for regular crew rotation missions to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Starliner will provide redundancy to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, allowing NASA to alternate crew rotations between the two vehicles.
Overall, this week’s launch roundup highlights the excitement and challenges of space exploration. From technical issues causing delays to successful launches and significant milestones, the space industry continues to push boundaries and advance our understanding of the universe.
