Boeing's first astronaut flight called off at the last minute in latest setback (2024)

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits on the launch pad during sunrise at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard the rocket to the International Space Station, scheduled for liftoff later Saturday.

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits on the launch pad during sunrise at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard the rocket to the International Space Station, scheduled for liftoff later Saturday.

Boeing's Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket stands ready at Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a mission to the International Space Station, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch is scheduled for June 1.

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Friday, May 31, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard the rocket to the International Space Station, scheduled for liftoff on June 1.

Boeing's Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket stands ready at Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a mission to the International Space Station, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch is scheduled for June 1.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams share a laugh as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams waves as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore talk to family members as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore talk to family members as they leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

Boeing's Starliner capsule, atop an Atlas V rocket, sits the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 after being scrubbed Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams leave the operations and checkout building for a trip to launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The two astronauts are scheduled to liftoff later today on the Boeing Starliner capsule for a trip to the international space station. .

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, riding in the astro van, drive by the Vehicle Assembly Building on the way back to the operations and checkout building after the launch was scrubbed Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Tory Bruno, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, speaks during a news conference after the launch of Boeing's Starliner Atlas V rocket was scrubbed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a mission to the International Space Station, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Tory Bruno, right, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, speaks during a news conference with Steve Stich, left, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, and Mark Nappi, center, vice president and program manager of the Commercial Crew Program for Boeing, after the launch of Boeing's Starliner Atlas V rocket was scrubbed at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for a mission to the International Space Station, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.