NASA Astronauts Set to Make History Aboard Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are gearing up to make history as the first crew to travel aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The astronauts have entered quarantine ahead of their scheduled May 6 launch to ensure their health and safety during the mission.
The quarantine is a necessary precaution to prevent sickness on the International Space Station, where the crew will be staying for an extended period. The mission will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and the astronauts will be the first to fly on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
Boeing’s commercial crew contract for the Starliner is valued at $4.2 billion, making it a key player in NASA’s efforts to commercialize space travel. This is in comparison to SpaceX’s $2.6 billion contract for similar services.
Engineers had to address technical problems with the Starliner spacecraft after a failed test flight in 2019. Despite these challenges, the mission is back on track for launch in May.
Looking ahead, Starliner-1’s operational mission is set for early 2025 at the earliest, with a crew consisting of NASA’s Scott Tingle, Mike Fincke, and the Canadian Space Agency’s Joshua Kutryk. NASA has established quarantine facilities at Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to ensure the astronauts’ safety and health before launches.
The upcoming launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft marks a significant step forward in the commercialization of space travel, as NASA continues to expand its partnerships with private companies in the exploration of space.
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