Spacesuits, Cargo Ops on Station as Starliner Targets June 5 Launch

The ISS Expedition 71 crew kicked off Monday with spacesuit work and cargo operations aboard the International Space Station. Back on Earth, mission managers are reportedly targeting June 5 )don't hold your breath) for the launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on NASA’s Crew Flight Test. Four NASA astronauts spent much of Monday in the Quest airlock checking out spacesuits and reviewing procedures for a trio of spacewalks targeted to take place in June. Flight Engineer Mike Barratt started the work as he powered up the spacesuits, cleaned cooling loops, and serviced suit components throughout the day.

Primary Objectives Include Executing A Landing Burn, Soft Splashdown, And Achieving A Controlled Entry

As previously noted, the next Starship launch seems to be pending... soon. According to Elon's troops, the fourth flight test of Starship could launch as soon as June 6 (pending regulatory approval). The launch window will open as early as 0700CT. As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change. SpaceX boasts that, "Starship’s third flight test made tremendous strides towards a future of rapidly reliable reusable rockets. The test completed several exciting firsts, including the first Starship reentry from space, the first ever opening and closing of Starship’s payload door in space, and a successful propellant transfer demonstration. This last test provided valuable data for eventual ship-to-ship propellant transfers that will enable missions like returning astronauts to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program..."

Telescope Automatically Entered Safe Mode When One Of Its Three Gyroscopes Gave Faulty Telemetry Readings

Not all is quite right with the Hubble Space Telescope... NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope entered safe mode May 24 due to an ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue, suspending science operations. Hubble’s instruments are stable, and the telescope is in good health. The telescope automatically entered safe mode when one of its three gyroscopes gave faulty telemetry readings. Hubble’s gyros measure the telescope’s slew rates and are part of the system that determines and controls precisely the direction the telescope is pointed.

NASA, Mission Partners Forgo June 2 Launch of Crew Flight Test

NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) scrubbed Saturday's launch attempt due to the computer ground launch sequencer not loading into the correct operational configuration after proceeding into terminal count. The ULA team subsequently went back to work to understand the cause. The next launch opportunity of Sunday, June 2, at 12:03 p.m. EDT, was put off -- again.