Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner Set for Crewed Test Flight to International Space Station
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is now attached to the Atlas 5 rocket in preparation for a crewed test flight to the International Space Station next month. The spacecraft rolled out from Kennedy Space Center to Space Launch Complex 41 on April 16, marking a significant milestone in the company’s space exploration efforts.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set to be on board for the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, which is scheduled for a launch on May 6. The launch was originally planned for May 1, but was delayed due to activities at the ISS.
The CFT mission follows a successful uncrewed test flight and a previous malfunctioning test flight from two years ago. The primary goal of the mission is to evaluate how the spacecraft systems perform with a crew on board.
A successful CFT mission would allow NASA to certify the Starliner for regular crew rotation missions, starting as early as 2025. The next milestone for the mission is a flight test readiness review on April 25, where final preparations for the mission will be evaluated.
This mission represents an important step forward in the partnership between Boeing and NASA in advancing human space exploration. Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking test flight as the launch date approaches.
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