Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft Set to Carry Astronauts for First Time on May 6th
NASA and Boeing Leaders Confirm May 6 Launch Date
Leaders from NASA and Boeing announced on Thursday that the first crewed Starliner mission is moving forward with its historic May 6 launch date. The mission, which will carry two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), has completed a critical flight test review and has been deemed ready for launch.
A Critical Step Towards Regular Missions
The crewed Starliner mission marks a significant milestone in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). The program was established in 2011 with the goal of purchasing astronaut transportation services from private industry. In contrast to SpaceX, which has completed all six missions under the original contract plus more, Boeing’s Starliner has faced numerous technical issues and delays.
Over $1.5 Billion in Overrun Costs
Boeing has incurred over $1.5 billion in overrun costs due to the delays. The aerospace giant has been affected by a slew of other near-catastrophes as of late, including regulatory scrutiny due to screwups in its commercial airplane unit. Earlier this year, it was announced that Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun would step down at the end of 2024.
A New Spacecraft Means Doubling America’s Astronaut Transportation Resources
For NASA, a new spacecraft means doubling America’s astronaut transportation resources and introducing a much-needed degree of redundancy to the agency’s human spaceflight program. If Boeing nails this test, Starliner will achieve its final certification and can begin regular missions under the CCP contract.
Probability of Loss-of-Crew: 1-in-295
NASA determined that the probability of loss-of-crew with this Starliner mission is 1-in-295, which is above NASA’s required 1-in-270 odds. A NASA representative did not have equivalent data for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
"’The lives of our crew members, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are at stake,’ NASA’s associate administrator, Jim Free, said. ‘We don’t take that lightly at all.’"
Mission Objectives
The crewed Starliner mission will see astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams board the capsule on May 6 and take their ride on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to space. Around 24 hours later, the two astronauts will arrive at the ISS, where they’ll stay for about a week.
Starliner’s First Crewed Mission
This mission marks Starliner’s second flight to the ISS. The first, an uncrewed mission called Orbital Flight Test-2, took place in May 2022. If Boeing and NASA are unable to meet the May 6 date, there are additional launch opportunities on May 7, 10, and 11.
Significance of the Mission
The significance of this mission cannot be understated. It marks a critical step towards regular missions under the CCP contract and demonstrates NASA’s commitment to advancing human spaceflight capabilities. With Starliner’s certification, NASA will have two reliable spacecraft options for transporting astronauts to the ISS.
Additional Launch Opportunities
If Boeing and NASA are unable to meet the May 6 date, there are additional launch opportunities on May 7, 10, and 11. These opportunities ensure that the mission can still proceed even if there are any last-minute issues.
Conclusion
The crewed Starliner mission is a significant milestone for both NASA and Boeing. With its certification, NASA will have two reliable spacecraft options for transporting astronauts to the ISS. The success of this mission demonstrates NASA’s commitment to advancing human spaceflight capabilities and underscores the importance of partnerships with private industry in achieving these goals.
Timeline
- May 6: Launch date
- May 7: Additional launch opportunity (if needed)
- May 10: Additional launch opportunity (if needed)
- May 11: Additional launch opportunity (if needed)
Key Players
- NASA: The primary customer for the Commercial Crew Program, NASA has been working closely with Boeing to ensure that Starliner is ready for its first crewed mission.
- Boeing: The manufacturer of the Starliner spacecraft, Boeing has faced numerous technical issues and delays in developing the spacecraft.
- United Launch Alliance (ULA): The company providing the Atlas V rocket for the launch of the Starliner spacecraft.
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