LOS ANGELES, May 8 (Xinhua) -- NASA and Boeing are now targeting no earlier than Friday, May 17, for launch of the first crewed mission of the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).

The spacecraft was previously scheduled to launch on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the U.S. state of Florida.

The launch attempt was scrubbed due to technical issues.

Following a thorough data review completed on Tuesday, ULA decided to replace a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank on the Atlas V rocket's Centaur upper stage, NASA said on Wednesday.

The oscillating behavior of the valve during prelaunch operations ultimately resulted in mission teams calling the launch scrub on Monday, according to NASA.

ULA plans to roll the rocket, with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, back to its Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, to begin the replacement.

The ULA team will perform leak checks and functional checkouts in support of the next launch attempt.

The flight test will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS.

The two astronauts will remain in crew quarters at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in quarantine until the next launch opportunity, said NASA.

The duo will be the first to launch aboard Starliner to the space station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program.

This mission could be the final major milestone before NASA deems Boeing's spacecraft ready for routine operations as part of the federal agency's Commercial Crew Program. Enditem

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