After years of delays and a budget that went over budget by more than a billion dollars, the capsule Starliner of Boeing is ready for its first manned flight to the International Space Station (ISS)marking a crucial moment for the company and for the POT.
This is the first manned flight of the capsule Starlinerin which two pilots of the American Space Agency They will perform a critical test of the vehicle during a week-long stay at the station. This mission seeks to demonstrate an alternative to the already operational Crew Dragon of SpaceXwhich to date has launched 50 astronauts, cosmonauts and civilians into space on 13 manned flights since May 2020.
Unlike SpaceX, Boeing has faced numerous technical problems that have required extensive redo work and additional unmanned testing to resolve. However, mission managers assure that all known problems were corrected and that the spacecraft was subjected to multiple improvements and exhaustive tests to verify its ability to safely transport astronauts to and from space. ISS.
The crew demonstration mission is scheduled for an overnight launch on Monday, May 6, marking a pivotal moment for both Boeing as for the POTwith the expectation of alternating future missions between Boeing and SpaceX, as confirmed by the news agency The Associated Press.
The astronauts in command of the Starlinerboth Navy test pilots and space veterans, express confidence in the mission. Barry “Butch” Wilmorecommander of the mission, stated that he had “full confidence in the management that makes the decisions… That is the past. That’s not now”.
For her part, the co-pilot Sunita Williams highlighted the learning obtained from previous experiences, ensuring that “We wouldn’t say we were ready if we weren’t ready.”. The launch is scheduled from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stationestablishing itself as the first time that astronauts will be launched using a rocket Atlas since the last mission mercury More than 60 years ago, he published CBSNews.
The Atlas 5equipped with a first stage engine RD-180 Built in Russia, it was qualified for manned flights, notable for its highly reliable components and an advanced emergency failure detection system designed to ensure safe escape in the event of imminent failure during launch.
In addition, Starliner features powerful abort motors and systems that allow Wilmore and Williamsif necessary, manually trigger an abort, as well as provide direct manual control in case of complications during launch or in orbit.
The flight of Starliner It is not only an achievement for Boeing but also for the Commercial Crew Program of the POTwhich after retiring the space shuttle, assigned contracts to SpaceX and Boeing with the goal of resuming the launch of American astronauts from American soil and ensuring redundant access to the ISS.
While SpaceX achieved its goals of successfully flying astronauts into space, Boeing seeks to demonstrate with this mission that it is also capable of fulfilling the same commitment. A success in this mission would not only validate the investment of Boeing of more than a billion dollars to overcome the technical obstacles encountered but would also consolidate its position as a vital participant in the future of human space transportation.
Assuming the launch and mission go smoothly, Wilmore and Williams will oversee a largely automated meeting with the ISSdemonstrating the craft’s ability to carry out the required flight path and intervene after a major failure if necessary.
It is expected that the Starliner land on the ground, using parachutes and airbags to soften the impact, a feature that distinguishes it from the Crew Dragon of SpaceX. This landing is planned in the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexicosubject to favorable weather conditions.
