Boeing's Starliner on Track to Launch its 1st Astronaut Flight This Spring, NASA Says
Crewed Flight Test Tentatively Scheduled for May 6, 2024
Atlas Rocket Issue and Valve Problem Delay Launch
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is on track to launch its first astronaut flight this spring, NASA announced. The Crewed Flight Test (CFT) was tentatively scheduled for a launch date of May 6, 2024, but due to a problem with an oxygen valve on the Atlas rocket and a subsequent delay, the launch date has been pushed back. No new launch date has been announced yet.
The CFT will be the first flight of the Starliner spacecraft with astronauts on board. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard Starliner on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The mission will test the Starliner's ability to safely transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
The Starliner spacecraft is designed to carry up to seven astronauts and is reusable up to 10 times. It is one of two commercial spacecraft that NASA has contracted to transport astronauts to the ISS. The other spacecraft, SpaceX's Crew Dragon, has already flown several successful missions with astronauts on board.
The Starliner's economic impact can be seen across the United States with more than 425 suppliers in 37 states. The pusher abort system provides safe, reliable, and efficient launch abort capabilities for the Starliner crew module.
The upcoming CFT mission is a significant milestone for Boeing and NASA. It will be the first time that the Starliner spacecraft has flown with astronauts on board, and it will pave the way for regular astronaut flights to the ISS.
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