Xi Jinping's Cultural Thought Guides New Journey to Build Modern Chinese Civilization
"The best inheritance of history is to create new history, and the greatest tribute to human civilization is to create new forms of human civilization." Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently placed cultural development in a prominent position in national governance. He has insisted on integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with China's excellent traditional culture. He has put forward a series of new ideas, new viewpoints, and new conclusions, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. This marks a new height in our Party's understanding of the laws of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, demonstrates a new height in our Party's historical confidence and cultural confidence, pushes the development of Chinese culture to a new stage, and provides scientific thought and action guidelines for the construction of modern Chinese civilization. As the first capital site of the late Shang Dynasty in China that can be verified by historical documents and confirmed by archaeological excavations, oracle bone inscriptions are the most important among the numerous archaeological discoveries at the Yin Ruins. Among the four major ancient writing systems known in the world, only the ancient Chinese writing system, represented by the oracle bone inscriptions of Yin Ruins, has transcended time and continued to this day. With a deep concern for cultural protection, inheritance, and innovative development, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during his inspection of the Yin Ruins on October 2022 that he had longed to visit the Yin Ruins for a long time, and that this visit was to further learn and understand Chinese civilization, to make the past serve the present, and to provide references for better building a modern Chinese civilization. Continuing Chinese civilization and consolidating spiritual strength. China's excellent traditional culture has been enduring and vibrant in its inheritance and development. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping, with firm cultural consciousness and confidence, has led China to promote cultural protection, inheritance, and innovative development with unprecedented intensity, making a series of important statements and instructions, pointing the way and providing guidance for cultural construction in the new era. "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" (Volumes I to IV) and "Selected Readings from the Works of Xi Jinping" and other important works collectively demonstrate the latest achievements in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, illuminating the path to national rejuvenation with the light of truth and strengthening the ideological foundation for the unity and progress of the Chinese people. At the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development held in June 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly expounded on the five prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, systematically elaborated on the great significance of the "two integrations," especially the "second integration," and put forward the new cultural mission of "continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a culturally strong country, and build a modern Chinese civilization on a new starting point." The excellent traditional Chinese culture, nurtured by more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, represents the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation and is a rich source of nourishment for the continuous development and growth of the Chinese nation. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the vitality of China's excellent traditional culture has been activated by the spirit of the times and integrated with revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture: the practice of "people-centered" governance highlights the value pursuit of "the people are the foundation of the country, and only when the foundation is solid can the country be peaceful"; the fighting spirit of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people "rolling up their sleeves and working hard" demonstrates the national character of self-improvement, diligence, and bravery; the inexhaustible innovative power released by high-quality development is a vivid portrayal of the pioneering spirit of "if you can make yourself new one day, do so every day and keep on making yourself new"; and the ecological concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" is an inheritance and development of the traditional ideas of "following the way of nature" and "harmony between man and nature." By nurturing socialist core values with China's excellent traditional culture, remarkable achievements have been made in building spiritual civilization and morality in the new era, and the cultural confidence of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country has significantly increased. Rongjiang County's "Village Super League" and Taijiang County's "Village BA" in Guizhou Province have used sports as an engine to create new cultural tourism formats, vividly demonstrating the vibrant confidence and self-reliance of the people in the new era, and are hailed as "a window into observing Chinese-style modernization"; in Qufu, Shandong Province, the hometown of Confucius, the essence of Confucian culture is continuously integrated into grassroots social governance. The city's 300 cultural "two creations" demonstration sites combine excellent traditional culture with new era civilization construction and school education, nurturing folk customs, and the spiritual outlook of the masses has been renewed; high-quality literary and artistic works enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the masses. Chinese original stage works such as "Spring in Yangjialing" at the National Centre for the Performing Arts attract more and more young audiences, and once niche folk music and opera performances are now full and well-received; "Intangible Cultural Heritage in China," "Poetic and Picturesque China," and other high-quality programs allow China's excellent traditional culture to shine with the brilliance of the times through creative transformation and innovative development; local cultural and tourism departments leverage local resources to create distinctive cultural cards, with red tourism, rural tourism, intangible cultural heritage tourism, and study tours attracting more people to "poetry and the distant"; in the consumer sector, the "Guochao (national trend) craze," marked by Chinese cultural elements, is leading a new cultural trend while also contributing to the rise of "Made in China" and "Chinese brands"; a number of "new mainstream films" rooted in China's excellent traditional culture and drawing on the lives of ordinary people have driven the continuous creation of new glories in the Chinese film market. "To make Marxism Chinese, to make China's excellent traditional culture modern, and to make the new culture formed through 'integration' the cultural form of Chinese-style modernization." Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, modern Chinese civilization is moving towards a broader and better future with consistent adherence and unique innovation.
Ding Xuexiang Inspects Preparations for 2024 National College Entrance Examination
Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, inspected the preparations for the 2024 National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) in Beijing on the afternoon of June 2. He emphasized that the Gaokao concerns tens of thousands of families and the future of a vast number of young students. It is essential to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, meticulously organize and safeguard the Gaokao with heart and soul, and go all out to achieve the goal of a "safe Gaokao." Ding Xuexiang first visited the Beijing No. 13 Middle School examination center, where he gained a firsthand understanding of the examination room setup, waiting area management, service guarantees, smart security checks, and other arrangements. He conversed with the on-site staff, extending sincere greetings and heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Party Central Committee and the State Council to all comrades working diligently on the front lines of the Gaokao. Ding Xuexiang stated that it is crucial to adhere to a student-centered approach, meticulously provide comprehensive support, create a safe and comfortable examination environment, fully demonstrate care and concern for students, allow them to relax and take the exam calmly, achieve their best results, and take a crucial step on the path to realizing their life dreams. Subsequently, Ding Xuexiang visited the Beijing Education Examinations Authority, where he inspected equipment such as integrated examination paper transfer boxes, smart examination terminals, and paper-and-pencil examination scanning and grading systems. He watched a demonstration of Beijing's National Education Examination Comprehensive Management Platform and listened to a report on the Gaokao preparation work. He emphasized that fairness, justice, and security are the lifelines of the Gaokao and must be upheld throughout every aspect of the examination process. Strict confidentiality management is essential, with strengthened supervision over the entire process of examination paper formulation, printing, transportation, and storage. Examination discipline must be strictly enforced, and examination cheating severely cracked down on. Quality control in grading must be strictly maintained, and recruitment procedures strictly followed to ensure examination fairness, procedural openness, and just results. Ding Xuexiang urged Party committees and governments at all levels to treat the Gaokao as a major test of governance capacity, meticulously grasp and effectively implement all service and support work, and deliver a satisfactory answer sheet to the Party and the people.
Chang'e-6 Successfully Lands on Moon's Far Side
Today (June 2) at 6:23 AM, the Chang'e-6 lander and ascender combination successfully touched down in the pre-selected landing area of the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon, with the support of the Queqiao-2 relay satellite. Since its launch and orbital insertion on May 3, the Chang'e-6 probe has undergone an approximately 30-day journey to the Moon, and after a series of key maneuvers including Earth-Moon transfer, near-Moon braking, and circumlunar flight, it successfully completed this world-renowned "spectacular landing" today. Compared to the Chang'e-5 mission which achieved lunar sample return from the near side of the Moon in 2020, the Chang'e-6 mission marks humanity's first sample return from the lunar far side. It involves numerous engineering innovations, high risks, and significant difficulties. In particular, the pre-selected landing area for this mission, the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon, has a height difference of over 10 kilometers. This is comparable to successfully landing a small truck in a mountainous area, requiring precise obstacle avoidance and an advanced guidance, navigation, and control system to ensure a safe landing. Next, Chang'e-6 will, as planned, collect lunar soil samples and lunar surface rocks through two methods: drilling with a drill bit and surface sampling with a robotic arm, which will last for approximately two days. International payloads, including the European Space Agency's Lunar Surface Negative Ion Analyzer, France's DORN lunar radon detector, and Italy's laser retroreflector, will also operate as planned to conduct scientific exploration.
On the Fields of Hope: Summer Harvest Underway Across China
During the busy "Three Summers" season, fields are bustling as various regions seize the agricultural season to diligently carry out summer harvesting, planting, and management tasks. In recent days, many areas in Henan have experienced clear weather, which is conducive to mechanized harvesting operations. In the wheat fields of Zhao Guixi, a large grain grower in Xiping County, Zhumadian, several newly introduced large combine harvesters are at work. Their efficiency is three to four times that of ordinary harvesters, and their ability to reduce losses and remove impurities has also greatly improved. This year, during the "Three Summers" period, Henan plans to deploy more than 4 million agricultural machinery units (sets), including over 200,000 combine harvesters. Currently, wheat harvesting in southern Henan is nearing its end, central Henan is entering the harvest peak, and large-scale wheat harvesting in northern Henan is about to begin. Over 60% of the wheat in Anhui's main wheat-producing areas has been harvested. In Mengcheng, the local government has made full use of information technology such as the internet, big data, and Beidou navigation to establish an agricultural machinery operation command and dispatch platform, which can real-time query the location and status of agricultural machinery, allowing for timely dispatch. Mechanized harvesting areas are assigned specific personnel, locations, and machinery, making wheat harvesting more efficient. Shandong's over 60 million mu of wheat are successively entering the harvest period. In Changqing District, Jinan, combine harvesters shuttle back and forth, completing wheat harvesting, threshing, and straw crushing and returning to the field in one go. Subsequently, corn planters enter the fields, simultaneously planting corn and fertilizing, achieving seamless衔接 between summer harvesting and summer planting. In preparation for the summer harvest, agricultural technicians in various parts of Hebei have gone deep into the fields to guide farmers in late-stage field management and conduct comprehensive inspections of summer harvesting machinery, ensuring that machinery maintenance and repair are in place before the summer harvest and that machinery parameters are adjusted before operation.
Seminar on "Building Modern Chinese Civilization" Held in Beijing Today
The seminar on "Building a Modern Chinese Civilization," hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was held today (June 2) in Beijing. Participants agreed that General Secretary Xi Jinping's call at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development to take on the cultural mission of the new era and build a modern Chinese civilization has pointed the direction and goal for China's cultural development. On the first anniversary of the symposium, it is highly significant to revisit General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech, deeply study and understand Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and exchange academic research achievements. Participants stated that to build a modern Chinese civilization, it is necessary to enhance the sense of responsibility and urgency in undertaking the cultural mission of the new era, strengthen cultural confidence, deeply study General Secretary Xi Jinping's series of important discourses on cultural inheritance and development, and produce more academic achievements that integrate ancient and modern, and connect East and West, so as to better promote academic and cultural prosperity. It is essential to adhere to the "two integrations," advance the systematic and theoretical development of the Party's innovative theories, and continuously open up new horizons for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism. The Chinese Academy of History recently released six major achievements from the national history community, including "A Brief History of Chinese-style Modernization," "Civilized China: Archaeological Interpretations of the Outstanding Characteristics of Chinese Civilization," and "A General History of Modern China (Revised Edition)."
"Three-North" Shelterbelt Program Achieves Phased Progress
The National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced that since the beginning of this year, the "Three-North" Shelterbelt Program's toughest phase has accelerated, achieving phased progress. In recent days, before the rainy season arrives, various regions within the "Three-North" Shelterbelt Program project area have been adapting to local conditions, planting trees and grass, and combating desertification. Zhongwei, Ningxia, located at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, plans to complete 592,300 mu of desertification control this year. The local efforts are proceeding at a rate of 800 to 1,000 mu of sand barriers planted per day, segmenting and fixing the vast yellow sands into tens of thousands of square grids. Linxian County, Shanxi, located in the "Jizi Bend" section of the Yellow River, is set to complete 191,000 mu of ecological restoration engineering this year and is currently entering a critical phase. In many areas with poor tree-planting conditions, saplings need to be carried on people's backs or shoulders to semi-cliff locations, and in some places, even drones are used for hoisting and transport. As a new model for desertification control, the "Three-North" Shelterbelt Program's toughest phase is accelerating the integrated construction of ecological photovoltaic power. In the Kubuqi Desert, photovoltaic desertification control has commenced simultaneously from both the eastern and western sections. The "Three-North" Shelterbelt Program's toughest phase focuses on three landmark battles, with 68 key projects initially planned. Since this spring, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration has organized 15 working groups to conduct on-site supervision in various "Three-North" provinces, promoting the commencement of projects. To date, 40 projects have begun construction, completing over 20 million mu of afforestation and grass planting.
High-Quality Development Survey: Shanghai Reforms Boost New Productive Forces from Labs
How to overcome the obstacles from laboratory to market and improve the conversion rate of scientific and technological achievements? During my research in Shanghai, I found that, on the basis of eliminating institutional and policy restrictions in the early stage, Shanghai is further liberating researchers through reforms to accelerate the marketization of scientific and technological achievements and promote the emergence of new productive forces from laboratories. When I met young scientist Ma Lin, he was busy studying the mass production process of a photonic interconnect chip. This chip, when integrated with computing power chips, can significantly enhance computing power for fields such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The marketization of his research achievements is due to the 20 million yuan in venture capital he recently received, an investment that was not easy to obtain in the past. Although early reforms allowed researchers to own a portion of their achievements, the complex co-ownership structure between institutions and researchers often deterred venture capital. The change came from a series of pilot reforms in Shanghai aimed at promoting the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. One of these reforms allows researchers to have full or partial ownership of scientific and technological achievements, provided that the institution's rights, such as the share of income from the commercialization, are clearly defined. Currently, at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, researchers like Ma Lin have founded 94 companies, collectively attracting over 6 billion yuan in social capital, with an estimated valuation of approximately 37 billion yuan. It's not just universities that are improving the conversion rate of achievements through reforms. Shanghai has also taken the lead in the country by including medical and health institutions in the scope of scientific and technological achievement commercialization pilots, solving the problem of medical and health researchers being "unable to" or "afraid to" commercialize their achievements. In this medical device industrial park in Jiading District, Shanghai, medical experts and corporate scientists and engineers are "going both ways," and a number of interdisciplinary laboratories are accelerating the industrialization of innovative medical device achievements. Preliminary statistics show that in 2023, the total number of scientific and technological achievement commercialization contracts by research institutions such as universities, research institutes, and medical and health institutions in Shanghai increased by 27.2% year-on-year, and the contract value increased by 24.4% year-on-year. Scientific and technological achievements are accelerating their transition from laboratories, contributing to high-quality development.
Jia-Chen Year World Chinese Yan Emperor Hometown Root-Seeking Festival Held in Suizhou, Hubei
Today (June 2), the Jiachen Year World Chinese Yan Emperor Hometown Root-Seeking Festival was held in Suizhou, Hubei. Approximately 2,500 representatives from overseas Chinese and various sectors of society from both at home and abroad collectively paid homage to Yan Emperor Shennong, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, and prayed for China. The Yan Emperor sacrificial ceremony in Suizhou is a national intangible cultural heritage, and this year's theme is "Inquiring of Lieshan, Forging the Soul of Huaxia." This year's Root-Seeking Festival adopted a combination of online and offline methods to promote excellent Chinese traditional culture, such as Yan Emperor culture, ritual and music culture, and Chu culture, to both domestic and overseas audiences. During the event, a series of activities will also be held, including the Yan Emperor Hometown Root-Seeking Culture Week, the Yan Emperor Culture Temple Fair, and "Hong Kong and Macao Youth See the Motherland."
Domestic News Briefs
China's Banking and Insurance Sector's Asset Quality Basically Stable in Q1
The latest regulatory data from the National Financial Regulatory Administration show that at the end of the first quarter, the total assets of China's banking financial institutions in domestic and foreign currencies amounted to 429.6 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.1%; the total assets of insurance companies reached 32.9 trillion yuan, an increase of 4.4% from the beginning of the year. At the end of the first quarter, the non-performing loan ratio of commercial banks was 1.59%, basically flat with the end of last year. The asset quality of commercial bank credit remained basically stable, and the solvency of the insurance industry was sufficient and stable.
China's First Heavy-Haul Railway Hydrogen Refueling Station Officially Operational
Today (June 2), China's first heavy-haul railway hydrogen refueling station, the National Energy Group Batuta Hydrogen Refueling Station, located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, officially commenced commercial operation. It can operate continuously 24/7 at -25 degrees Celsius. The hydrogen fuel it refuels can support a locomotive for 8 consecutive hours, with a range of 800 kilometers when empty, and is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 800 tons annually.
National Healthcare Security Administration Strengthens Supervision over Designated Retail Pharmacies
In response to irregularities in some designated retail pharmacies, such as substituting drugs and over-prescribing, which have led to losses of medical insurance funds, the National Healthcare Security Administration stated today (June 2) that it will take multiple measures to strengthen supervision over designated retail pharmacies, urge them to standardize business practices, intensify unannounced inspections and special rectification efforts, and actively explore the application of big data models and drug traceability codes in medical insurance fund supervision to address both symptoms and root causes in combating illicit drug trading.
"Rural School Sports Fields" Aided by Fujian Launched in Ningxia
Recently, a national standard "Rural School Sports Field" aided by Fujian was launched and put into use at the United Primary School in Wuzhong City, Ningxia. Next, Fujian will also leverage its high-quality sports education resources to offer courses such as "Sports and Health" and "Featured Basketball" in local schools in Ningxia, and regularly provide remote and on-site sports training and education to school teachers and students.
Over 2 Million People Entered and Exited the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center from January to May
From January to May this year, the number of people entering and exiting the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center exceeded 2 million, a year-on-year increase of 148%. The cooperation center hosts over 200 duty-free enterprises and more than 1,000 merchants, bringing together nearly 10,000 kinds of goods from China, Central Asia, and European countries.
New Round of Rainfall to Affect Southwest, Jiangnan, South China and Other Regions
Today (June 2) during the daytime, rainfall in most parts of South China gradually weakened and ceased. Starting from tonight, a new round of rainfall will affect the Southwest, Jiangnan, South China, and other regions from west to east. Meteorological departments remind that in the coming week, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, and other areas will experience more rainy weather in some regions, urging the public to continue to make preparations for secondary disasters caused by heavy rainfall.
International Media Closely Follows Chang'e-6's Successful Far Side Moon Landing
International media paid close attention to the successful landing of Chang'e-6 on the far side of the Moon today (June 2). Russia's Sputnik News Agency reported today that Chang'e-6 successfully landed on the far side of the Moon with the support of the Queqiao-2 relay satellite. The Chang'e-6 mission, which involves humanity's first sample return from the lunar far side, incorporates numerous engineering innovations and carries high risks and difficulties. Reuters reported that a Chinese probe landed on the far side of the Moon today, with China overcoming a key obstacle in its landmark lunar exploration mission, planning to retrieve rock and soil samples from the lunar far side for the first time in the world. Agence France-Presse reported that a Chinese probe successfully landed on the far side of the Moon and will for the first time bring back samples from the rarely explored lunar far side. American media outlets such as ABC and CBS reported that a Chinese probe landed on the far side of the Moon today to collect soil and rock samples, which will help understand the differences between this less-explored area and previously explored regions.
Israeli Military Says 3 Key Hamas Members Killed; Palestinian Factions Claim Strikes on Israeli Forces in Rafah
The Israeli military stated on June 1 that it continued military operations in various locations in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military also claimed to have killed three important members of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the past week. On the same day, several Palestinian armed factions reported using mortars, explosive devices, and other means to strike Israeli military personnel and vehicles at multiple locations in Rafah, and launched rockets at Israeli forces near the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip. The Houthis claimed to have struck a U.S. aircraft carrier twice, while the U.S. reported intercepting Houthi missiles. Yemen's Houthi rebels stated on June 1 that in the past 24 hours, they used missiles and drones to strike the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier twice in the Red Sea, in response to recent joint attacks by the U.S. and UK on Houthi targets. The Houthis also claimed to have struck a U.S. destroyer. The U.S. Central Command subsequently issued a statement saying that U.S. forces intercepted two missiles launched by the Houthis toward the USS Gravely destroyer.
Russia Claims Strikes on Ukrainian Energy Facilities; Ukraine Says Weakening Russian Offensive as Much as Possible
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on June 1 that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks on multiple fronts, destroyed Ukrainian military depots storing Western weapons, and intercepted Ukrainian drones, rockets, and guided aerial bombs. The Russian Ministry of Defense also said that in response to Ukraine's attempts to disrupt Russian energy facilities, the Russian military launched a cluster strike on Ukrainian energy facilities supporting the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy said on the same day that Russian forces launched a large-scale air attack on Ukrainian energy facilities, causing power outages in many areas. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated on June 1 that Ukrainian forces continued fierce battles with Russian forces in the Pokrovsk direction, with a tense situation, and Ukrainian forces were taking all possible measures to weaken the Russian offensive. Hungarian Prime Minister says Europe must be prevented from falling into war. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on June 1 that the risk of Europe falling into war is rapidly increasing and must be prevented.
International News Briefs
Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Says Iran Strives to Restore Regional Stability and Peace
According to Iranian media reports on June 1, Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Bagheri stated in Tehran that since the outbreak of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran has been committed to seeking an end to the conflict through diplomatic efforts. Iran has proposed an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the current situation. Bagheri said that Iran is making great efforts to restore regional peace and stability.
Kuwaiti Emir Nominates New Crown Prince
Kuwait's state television reported on June 1 that Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah has nominated Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah as crown prince. Sabah al-Khalid, born in 1953, has served as Kuwait's Foreign Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister, and Prime Minister. On December 16, 2023, Kuwait's former Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah passed away, and the Kuwaiti cabinet announced on the same day that the then Crown Prince Meshal would be the new Emir.
Southern Germany Hit by Floods, Officials Report Significant Damage
Recently, due to continuous rainfall, water levels in several rivers in southern Germany have risen, and local cities and towns have been affected by floods. According to information released by the German Meteorological Service on June 1, the highest level of alert has been issued for Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with some areas declaring a state of disaster. Currently, a large number of residents in southern Germany have been evacuated, and some high-speed rail lines have been suspended. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder stated on June 1 that the damage caused by the floods is significant, and the specific extent of the damage is yet to be further assessed.
Boeing's Starliner First Crewed Test Flight Delayed Again
NASA announced on June 1 that the first crewed test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, originally scheduled for the same day, was canceled due to a technical malfunction. The United Launch Alliance team is investigating the specific cause of the malfunction. The next launch date has not yet been determined. The Starliner was originally scheduled for its first crewed test flight on May 6, Eastern Time, but has been repeatedly delayed due to technical reasons.