Boeing Set to Launch Astronauts to International Space Station
After years of setbacks and delays, Boeing is finally ready to launch astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. The upcoming flight will mark the first crewed mission of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, with a pair of NASA pilots set to embark on a weeklong journey to the space station.
NASA turned to U.S. companies for astronaut transportation following the retirement of the space shuttles. While Elon Musk’s SpaceX has successfully completed nine trips for NASA since 2020, Boeing has faced challenges with only two uncrewed test flights.
Boeing’s program manager, Mark Nappi, expressed his excitement for the upcoming mission, despite the long road to get to this point. The astronaut demo is scheduled for liftoff on Monday night, with hopes for a successful test flight.
If all goes well, NASA plans to alternate between Boeing and SpaceX for future astronaut missions to the space station. The Starliner capsule, standing at 10 feet tall and 15 feet in diameter, can accommodate up to seven people, although NASA crews typically consist of four members.
The crew for this mission includes veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been closely involved in the development of the Starliner capsule. They are confident in the spacecraft’s readiness for the mission and are prepared to ensure a safe journey to the space station.
The test flight will launch from Cape Canaveral U.S. Space Force Station on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket. Starliner is expected to reach the space station in approximately 26 hours, where it will remain docked for eight days before returning to Earth.
Boeing has committed to six additional trips for NASA after this mission, with plans to offer a fifth seat to private clients. The future of space travel looks promising, with new spacecraft like Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser set to deliver cargo to the station in the near future.