Two experienced astronauts made their way to the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday afternoon to get ready for the inaugural piloted launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, a highly anticipated flight that has faced significant delays after two unmanned test flights and extensive efforts to address various technical issues.
Astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, both seasoned space travelers with four previous spaceflights, 11 spacewalks, and a combined 500 days in orbit, touched down at the spaceport's 3-mile-long runway in T-38 jet trainers following a journey from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Concluding the Starliner's Crew Test Flight, or CFT, will "enhance (NASA's) capability to travel to and from the space station, and that's incredibly important," he remarked. "We are thrilled to be here."
Williams added, "This is the moment of truth, where we will depart from this planet, and that is truly amazing!"
Exciting News for NASA's Commercial Crew Program
Following a successful spacewalk outside the International Space Station by two Russian cosmonauts, NASA mission managers have given the green light for the launch of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The spacecraft is set to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket at 10:34 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 6.
If all goes as planned, former Navy test pilots Wilmore and Williams will dock at the space station on May 8 and return to Earth on May 15. NASA is hopeful that this mission will pave the way for operational Starliner crew rotation flights starting in 2025, alternating launches with SpaceX.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, expressed his excitement about the progress, stating, "Today was a huge day for our Commercial Crew Program. All the partners and our team have given the go-ahead for the launch on May 6. We have also signed an interim human rating for Starliner for this crewed flight test, marking a significant milestone for NASA and our entire team."
In 2014, NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing as part of the Commercial Crew Program, with the aim of developing spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
The Race to Resume Crewed Spaceflights from U.S. Soil
With the retirement of the space shuttle, NASA aimed to end its reliance on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft and once again launch American astronauts from American soil aboard U.S. rockets and spacecraft. Having two independent spacecraft for crew flights to the ISS became a priority for the space agency.
SpaceX took the lead by successfully conducting piloted flights starting in May 2020, sending NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) on Crew Dragon spacecraft. To date, SpaceX has completed numerous missions to the ISS, including operational flights, commercial visits, and privately-funded trips to low-Earth orbit.
On the other hand, Boeing faced setbacks with its Starliner spacecraft. An unpiloted test flight in December 2019 encountered software and communications issues, preventing a successful docking with the ISS. A second unpiloted flight was scheduled for August 2021 but was delayed due to corroded valves in the propulsion system. After resolving these issues, further complications arose, such as problems with parachutes and concerns about flammable protective tape.
Despite these challenges, Boeing's Crew Flight Test finally took place on May 6, marking a significant step in the company's efforts to join SpaceX in providing crewed spaceflights from the United States.
Amidst recent problems with Boeing aircraft that have raised questions about the company's safety culture, a successful Crew Flight Test is seen by many as a critical milestone, both for Boeing and for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
"I don't think it has necessarily anything to do with Boeing and a flight going off," he said. "They're all vitally important. This is human spaceflight. That adage you've heard since Apollo 13, failure is not an option? That has nothing specifically to do with Boeing or this program. That's all the things that we do in human spaceflight.
"So, this one is no more or less important than anything else we're doing," he said. "It just happens to be the most important one we're doing right now."
Mark Nappi, Boeing's Starliner program manager, agreed, saying "the success of this mission has always been very important for us as a program for a lot of reasons."
"Number one, we have humans flying on this vehicle," he said. "We take that so seriously in human spaceflight. I've spent my career in this business, and it always has been the top of the list.
"Our priority is to fulfill our commitment to NASA and successfully complete this mission. This endeavor is crucial for the program, and we are fully dedicated to achieving success. Our focus is on delivering on the promises we made to our customer, rather than solely on the significance for Boeing."
