NASA recently announced the scrubbing of the planned launch of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The two astronauts scheduled for the mission, Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams, were just under four minutes from liftoff when an automated system triggered a hold, delaying the launch. The exact reason for the hold remains unknown, as all systems were reported stable and ready for launch.
Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden provided insights into the situation, comparing it to past experiences during the shuttle days. He explained that the ground launch sequencer detected a problem in the ground system software, prompting the hold. Bolden emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety in such situations, quoting the adage 'better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground.'
Reflecting on the disappointment faced by astronauts when a launch is scrubbed, Bolden shared his personal experience of having a mission delayed multiple times before a successful launch. He described the initial adrenaline rush followed by the sinking realization that the launch would not proceed as planned. Despite the disappointment, he noted that it is better to scrub a launch earlier in the countdown process rather than at the last minute.
While the astronauts, Wilmore and Williams, may be disappointed by the delay, Bolden highlighted that it is preferable to have the hold occur before reaching the final stages of launch preparation. The NASA team is currently investigating the cause of the hold to ensure the spacecraft's readiness for a future launch attempt.
