Following the helium leak, Starliner is now aiming for a May 21 launch.

In order to correct a minor helium leak inside the Starliner spaceship, Boeing has announced yet another delay of its Starliner mission, this time until at least May 21

After a review of the data, United Launch Alliance (ULA) decided to replace a pressure regulating valve on the Centaur upper stage of the Atlas V rocket, which caused NASA to reschedule the mission’s launch date to May 17

The ULA team successfully changed a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank of the Centaur upper stage of the Atlas V rocket on May 11. Along with repressurizing and purging the system, the team tested the new valve, which functioned as intended. The helium leak, which they linked to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster, is still being investigated by Starliner researchers. Since helium is non-toxic and flammable, it is utilized in spacecraft thruster systems to enable the thrusters to fire.

To solve the problem, NASA and Boeing are now creating operational and testing strategies for spacecraft. In order to confirm current data and reinforce flight logic, Boeing will also test the propulsion system by pressurizing it to the same level as it does before launch and letting the helium system naturally escape. The mission teams have concluded a comprehensive analysis of the data pertaining to the launch attempt on May 6 and have not detected any additional problems. Similarly, the Atlas V and Starliner are still housed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida’s Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41.

While prelaunch procedures continue, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams—who are currently under quarantine—have also returned to Houston to spend more time with their families. The pair will then take a flight.