Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed over Atlas rocket glitch

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying two astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT), is shown after the launch was delayed for technical issues prior to a mission to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. May 6, 2024. REUTERS/Steve Nesius

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will be no earlier than Friday, NASA said, after the planned launch on Monday was halted over a fault with the Atlas V rocket that will carry the new capsule into orbit.

The CST-100 Starliner's inaugural voyage carrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) has been highly anticipated and much-delayed as Boeing scrambles to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX for a greater share of lucrative NASA business.