NASA and Boeing Set to Launch Crewed Starliner Spacecraft in May
In a highly anticipated development, NASA and Boeing are gearing up for the first crewed flight of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in early May. This marks a crucial milestone before regular flights to the International Space Station (ISS) can commence.
The Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission is currently scheduled for no earlier than May 1, with veteran astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on board. The astronauts are expected to spend approximately eight days at the ISS before returning to the southwestern United States.
During the CFT mission, various objectives will be tested, including the performance of life support systems and manual controls operation. This mission is considered the final major milestone before the spacecraft is certified for crew rotation flights, starting with the Starliner-1 mission.
Certification is expected to be completed in November or December, pending any issues that may arise during the CFT mission. While multiple certification items are still being finalized, further delays are not anticipated.
The ultimate goal of the Starliner program is to ensure redundancy in access to the ISS, alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. Boeing’s primary focus is on operational missions for NASA before considering private astronaut missions.
Suni Williams, who has been training for commercial crew missions since 2015, expressed her excitement for the upcoming launch, calling it a “test pilot’s dream.” With the CFT mission on the horizon, the space community eagerly anticipates this next chapter in human spaceflight.
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