What To Know
- A defective valve on the Atlas V upper stage had first led to an initial cancellation a few hours before launch and required complex repairs.
- Wilmore and Williams will spend about eight days on board the ISS and will put the capsule through a series of rigorous tests.
- The goal was to no longer depend on the Russians since the retirement of the U.
June 5, 2024, marks a historic date in space exploration as Boeing‘s Starliner capsule launches to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The inaugural flight from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral symbolizes nearly two decades of preparation to integrate commercial vehicles into NASA‘s human space missions.
Better late than never
Aboard the Starliner spacecraft are veteran NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who together have more than 11,000 flight hours as former U.S. Navy test pilots. The launch, at 10:52 a.m. EDT (4:52 p.m. CEST), also marks a first for the U.S. Navy’s Atlas V rocket.United Launch Alliance (ULA) which transports astronauts for the first time in 22 years of operationsThe path to this launch was not without obstacles. Originally scheduled for May 6, the flight had been delayed several times due to technical problems. A defective valve on the Atlas V upper stage had first led to an initial cancellation a few hours before launch and required complex repairs. A helium leak and a power supply failure had then delayed subsequent attempts. Docking to the ISS is scheduled for this Thursday, June 6 around 6:15 p.m. (Paris time).
Butch Wilmore (left), NASA Boeing crew flight test commander, and pilot Suni Williams. Credit: Joe Raedle
The objectives of the mission
This mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), is crucial for Starliner’s certification for regular manned missions. Wilmore and Williams will spend about eight days on board the ISS and will put the capsule through a series of rigorous tests. They will perform manual maneuvers, test emergency scenarios, and conduct debriefings to ensure the Starliner capsule is ready for longer operational missions. If the CFT is successful, Starliner could then perform its first operational crewed mission in 2025. The mission, named Starliner-1, is expected to carry NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Scott Tingle, as well as Canadian astronaut Josh Kutryk. NASA’s commercial crew program, which began with the commercial cargo program in 2006, will now have two manned spacecraft independent of traditional government systems: Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX‘s Crew Dragon. Both companies were awarded major contracts in 2014 to finalize development of their respective capsules. The goal was to no longer depend on the Russians since the retirement of the U.S. space shuttles in 2011. Russia, for its part, will continue to send crews of cosmonauts on its Soyuz spacecraft until at least 2028, when the country’s commitment to the partnership expires.
