The US space Agency NASA's attempt to regain its ability to send its own astronauts into space without Russian help hit a snag with the failure of a crucial Boeing space capsule test, a mission that now must be cut short.

The CST-100 Starliner capsule took off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday morning in the US atop an Atlas V rocket from Boeing-Lockheed Martin Corp's United Launch Alliance.  That part went well, and the capsule separated from the rocket as designed.

"We did obviously have some challenges today.  When the spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle we did not get the orbital insertion burn that we were hoping for," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

Because of a timer error, the Starliner failed to achieve the proper orbit and at one point was even pointing in the wrong direction.  Despite engine burns to correct the problem it became apparent that the spacecraft would not reach the International Space Station (ISS) as planned.  It was to stay up there for a week, and then return to earth in the desert at White Sands, New Mexico using parachutes and airbags for a soft landing.

Mission leaders now will bring the capsule down a week early on Sunday in the US.  

The US ended its Space Shuttle program in 2011 after 135 successful launches and two disasters, and began using Russian space launches to ferry astronauts and cargo to the ISS.  NASA awarded a US$4.2 Billion contract to Boeing, and another $2.5 Billion to Elon Musk's SpaceX, to develop the next generation of spacecraft.  

Both were initially expected to begin manned missions in late 2017 but have been delayed by design and safety concerns.  The SpaceX Crew Dragon carried out its first unmanned test earlier this year.