Watch: Boeing's Starliner Capsule Blasts Off on First Crewed Mission to ISS Today
- by ScienceAlert
- May 06, 2024
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— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 5, 2024
For NASA, the stakes are also high: Having a second option for human space flight in addition to SpaceX's Dragon vehicles is "really important," said Dana Weigel, manager of the agency's International Space Station program.
Weigel said the flexibility could help NASA manage emergency situations, such as problems with a particular space vehicle.
Setback after setback
Starliner is scheduled to arrive at the ISS at about 0500 GMT Wednesday, and remain there for a little over a week. Tests will be performed to check it is working properly, and then Williams and Wilmore will reboard the capsule to return home.
A successful mission would help dispel the bitter taste left by the numerous setbacks in the Starliner program.
In 2019, during a first uncrewed test flight, the capsule was not placed on the right trajectory and returned without reaching the ISS.
Then in 2021, with the rocket on the launchpad for a new flight, blocked valves forced another postponement.
The empty vessel finally reached the ISS in May 2022.
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft approaches the International Space Station. (NASA)
Since then, Boeing has been working on the crewed test flight so the capsule can be certified for NASA's use on regular ISS missions.
It had hoped to carry out that flight in 2022, but problems kept cropping up, notably in the parachute system used to slow the craft when it returns to Earth's atmosphere.
"There are a number of things that were surprises along the way that we had to overcome," said Boeing executive Mark Nappi.
"It certainly made the team very strong, and very proud of how they have overcome every single issue that we've encountered." he added.
"It's pretty typical that a human spaceflight vehicle from design to flying humans is about a 10-year period."
'Very embarrassing'
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