The United States' new Starliner spacecraft, which launched on its first test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) this morning suffered an 'off-nominal' insertion, Boeing said on Friday.
Starliner has an off-nominal insertion, but we have spacecraft control. The guidance and control team is assessing their next maneuver.
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) December 20, 2019
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that the spacecraft was now in a stable orbit.
Starliner in stable orbit. The burn needed for a rendezvous with the ISS did not happen. Working the issue.
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) December 20, 2019
He added that more details would be announced at an upcoming press conference.
Starliner, constructed by Boeing under a contract with NASA, was launched aboard an Atlas V carrier from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 6.36 a.m. local time (11:36 GMT).