T-Minus…

Atlas V made it back to space earlier this week (no relation to this Atlas).  It sent up a crewed flight test of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.  Prior to its Wednesday launch, there were many delays (it was initially planned for May 6^th).  Just before lifting off a month earlier, there were concerns with a valve issue.  In an abundance of caution, the event was postponed.

Schedules change all the time, consider the Federal Reserve.  Like space enthusiasts anticipating the roar of booster rockets, many central bank observers expected the bank to lift its foot off the brake of the American economy by lowering the overnight interest rate in January.  In fact at the time, diligent watchers thought it would happen many times by this time of the year.  So far, it’s been nothing but delays.  There is another window opening next week, but virtually nobody thinks they’ll move rates.

Delays of these sorts help avert disaster.  In addition to the May 6^th delay, the Atlas V launch was postponed on May 17^th and then again on May 21^st after a small helium leak was detected.  This discovery then required further assessments which pushed the launch date to May 25^th.  That was pushed once again to June 1^st as assessments were not completed on time.  Finally, the craft left our atmosphere on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve, like the team behind the Atlas V, understands that the stakes are high and that thorough preparation and caution are essential for long-term success. The Atlas V's strong performance history, even after delays, mirrors the Fed's consistent efforts to foster a stable economic environment.  Through a process of containing both patience and careful planning these teams attempt to achieve reliable and impactful outcomes in their respective fields.