In a disappointing turn of events, Boeing's first astronaut flight was postponed yet again due to last-minute computer trouble. The launch, which had astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams strapped inside the Starliner capsule, was called off at just 3 minutes and 50 seconds before liftoff.

The computer system that controls the final minutes before launch automatically halted the countdown, leaving no time to address the issue. Technicians rushed to assist the astronauts out of the capsule atop the fully fueled Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. After the launch abort, the hatch was reopened within an hour.

According to Tory Bruno, CEO for the rocket maker United Launch Alliance, one of the three redundant computers located near the rocket at the pad was sluggish. All three computers must function properly to proceed with the launch. The team will be unable to troubleshoot the problem until the rocket is drained of all its fuel.

Depending on the nature of the issue, the next launch attempt could take place as early as Wednesday. However, if the launch is further delayed, it would not be possible until mid-June in order to move the rocket off the pad and replace batteries.

Boeing's Mark Nappi acknowledged the challenges of the space industry, stating, "This is the business that we're in. Everything's got to work perfectly." This setback marks the second launch attempt for Boeing, as the first one on May 6 was postponed for leak checks and rocket repairs.

NASA has been seeking a backup option to SpaceX, which has been successfully flying astronauts since 2020. Boeing had originally planned to launch its crew around the same time as SpaceX but experienced severe software issues during its first test flight in 2019. Subsequent attempts were plagued by parachute problems, flammable later, and valve issues.

Despite the disappointment, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, the backup pilot, emphasized that delays are an inherent part of spaceflight. He expressed confidence in the future, stating, "We're going to have a great launch in our future."

As the team works to resolve the computer trouble and ensure a successful launch, the anticipation for Boeing's first crewed mission continues to build.