Boeing’s first astronaut flight is scheduled for June after a review of a small leak in the new capsule

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Boeing now aims to launch its first astronaut in early June after spending the past few weeks grappling with more space capsule problems.

Company and NASA officials said Friday that intensive analyzes indicate the Starliner capsule can fly safely with two test pilots, despite a small leak in the propulsion system. The helium leak was discovered after the first launch attempt on May 6, which was scuttled by an unrelated problem with the rocket that has since been corrected.

Engineers suspect a faulty seal that, even if the leak worsens, could be resolved during flight. Boeing is targeting June 1 for the launch in Florida.

Identification of the leak led to the discovery of a “design vulnerability” in the Starliner’s propulsion system in the unlikely event of a series of failures, said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager. The team has developed alternative methods to safely de-orbit the capsule at the end of the flight, should such problems arise, he added.

“We will not fly until we are sure we are safe,” NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free told reporters.

Boeing’s Starliner capsule is already years behind in transporting astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. SpaceX has been launching crews since 2020. NASA wants both companies for alternative taxi services.

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