New Delhi: After several setbacks and delays, Boeing is finally ready to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) on behalf of NASA. This marks the inaugural crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, with two NASA pilots on board to evaluate the spacecraft during the test mission and week-long stay on the space station.
After the retirement of the space shuttles, NASA turned to American companies to provide transportation for astronauts. While SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has completed nine successful crewed missions for NASA since 2020, Boeing has only managed two unmanned test flights.
“There’s no doubt about it, but we’re here now,” admitted Mark Nappi, Boeing’s program manager, expressing his desire for the Starliner to be more advanced in its development.
The long-awaited crewed test mission is scheduled to launch on Monday evening. If the test flight goes smoothly, NASA plans to alternate between Boeing and SpaceX to ferry future astronauts to and from the space station.
The Starliner capsule, decorated in white with black and blue accents, is approximately 10 feet (3 meters) long and 15 feet (4.5 meters) in diameter. It has the capacity to accommodate up to seven people, although NASA crews typically consist of four people. The capsule’s name, chosen nearly a decade ago, is a reference to Boeing’s previous Stratoliner and current Dreamliner.
Retired Navy SEALs and veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams, who have spent months aboard the space station in the past, will be at the helm of this test flight. They stepped in after the original crew had to withdraw due to increasing delays.
Wilmore, 61, is from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and is a former fighter pilot, while Williams, 58, from Needham, Massachusetts, is a helicopter pilot. Both have been closely involved in the development of the Starliner capsule and are confident that it is ready for this mission.
After the retirement of the space shuttles, NASA turned to American companies to provide transportation for astronauts. While SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has completed nine successful crewed missions for NASA since 2020, Boeing has only managed two unmanned test flights.
“There’s no doubt about it, but we’re here now,” admitted Mark Nappi, Boeing’s program manager, expressing his desire for the Starliner to be more advanced in its development.
The long-awaited crewed test mission is scheduled to launch on Monday evening. If the test flight goes smoothly, NASA plans to alternate between Boeing and SpaceX to ferry future astronauts to and from the space station.
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Retired Navy SEALs and veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams, who have spent months aboard the space station in the past, will be at the helm of this test flight. They stepped in after the original crew had to withdraw due to increasing delays.
Wilmore, 61, is from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and is a former fighter pilot, while Williams, 58, from Needham, Massachusetts, is a helicopter pilot. Both have been closely involved in the development of the Starliner capsule and are confident that it is ready for this mission.
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