This week was set to be an exciting one in the world of space exploration, with the maiden launches of two new spacecraft on the horizon. Boeing’s crewed Starliner spacecraft was scheduled to take flight for the first time, in what would be the first crewed launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station since the Apollo era. This mission was also set to mark the 100th overall mission for the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket.
However, the launch of Starliner’s Crewed Flight Test (CFT) mission has been delayed until at least May 17 due to an issue with an oxygen relief valve on the Centaur upper stage of the launch vehicle. Despite this setback, excitement continued to build as the first Chang Zheng 6C rocket from China was also set to make its debut this week.
The Chang Zheng 6C rocket, a dual-engine variant of the CZ-6 rocket, successfully launched carrying the first Haiwangxing-01 (Neptune-01) satellite as part of China’s planned 36-satellite constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites. Meanwhile, SpaceX was gearing up for multiple Starlink missions, with up to four launches planned from both coasts of the US.
SpaceX’s packed schedule also included the potential for up to six Falcon 9 missions in the first 12 days of May, with a Starlink Group 6 mission set to launch from Cape Canaveral on May 12. The Starlink CFT mission is expected to set new milestones, including the first crewed launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station since Apollo 7 and the first from Space Launch Complex 41.
Despite the delay in the Starliner CFT mission, once complete, it will certify the spacecraft for regular crew rotation missions to the International Space Station, providing crucial redundancy for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. This week’s launches showcase the innovation and collaboration driving the future of space exploration. Stay tuned for more updates as these missions unfold.
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