The Boeing Starliner, selected by NASA in 2010 as the next reusable transport to the International Space Station, is finally set to make its first crewed voyage on May 6. The launch is scheduled for 10:34 p.m. ET from Florida’s Cape Canaveral. The Starliner will be launched with an Atlas V rocket created by the United Launch Alliance, carrying astronauts Sunita (Suni) Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore. The mission will test the spacecraft and its subsystems for a little over a week before returning to Earth, with the goal of certifying the Starliner for repeat use in transport missions to and from the ISS.
This mission marks the first new spacecraft to head to the ISS since SpaceX’s Demo-2 in 2020. The Starliner, initially conceived as a commercial effort to take more people into space, was part of NASA’s initiative to involve private businesses in building and maintaining spacecraft for the ISS. Despite delays due to various issues such as weather conditions and software problems, the unmanned test flight of the Starliner finally launched on May 19, 2022, and completed its mission successfully, paving the way for the crewed mission. The delays, including those related to the Atlas V rocket, have been resolved, and the rocket is now ready for launch.
NASA will be livestreaming the Starliner launch on its YouTube channel, with coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m. ET on the day of the launch. Commentary will be provided by Spaceflight Now’s Will Robinson-Smith. Other YouTube channels, such as SpaceX, Space.com’s VideoFromSpace channel, and the Associated Press YouTube channel, will also be livestreaming the event. Viewers can choose their preferred channel for watching the launch of the Boeing Starliner on its historic first crewed mission to the International Space Station.
In 2014, Boeing and SpaceX were selected by NASA to develop crewed spacecraft for transport to the ISS. The Starliner was one of the first privately constructed spacecraft to be chosen for this purpose. The aim was to reduce NASA’s dependency on government-built spacecraft and outsource some of the work to private companies. Despite the challenges faced during development and testing, the Starliner is now ready to make its mark as a reliable method of transportation to and from the ISS. The successful completion of the crewed mission will mark a significant milestone in space exploration and further advancements in commercial space travel.
The arrival of the Boeing Starliner at the ISS represents a major accomplishment for both Boeing and NASA, showcasing the successful collaboration between the two entities. The crewed mission will involve extensive testing of the spacecraft and its systems, ensuring its safety and reliability for future missions. The launch of the Starliner will be closely monitored by space enthusiasts and experts alike, as it signifies a new era in space travel and the potential for further advancements in space exploration. The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for future space missions, demonstrating the capabilities of commercial spacecraft in supporting human presence in space.
