The New York Times reports that for weeks, NASA has downplayed problems experienced by Starliner, but on Wednesday, NASA officials admitted that the issues might be more serious than first thought and that the astronauts might not return on the Boeing vehicle. “The agency is exploring a backup option for the astronauts, Suni Wiliams and Butch Wilmore, to instead hitch a ride back to Earth on a spacecraft built by Boeing’s competitor SpaceX. The astronauts’ stay in orbit, which was to be as short as eight days, could be extended into next year.”
Full Story (New York Times)
Tag: Sunita Williams
Boeing Starliner’s First Crewed Test Flight Scheduled for Next Week
Flying Magazine reports, “A historic NASA launch planned for early next week could have major implications for the space agency’s Commercial Crew Program, which ferries astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and low-Earth orbit in partnership with private companies. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner will finally make its first crewed flight test on Monday. Boeing on Friday confirmed that NASA gave Starliner the ‘go to proceed.’”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
First Boeing Starliner Astronauts, Wilmore and Williams, Ready to Launch to ISS
SPACE reports, “Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams told Space.com and a small group of reporters at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) that they are excited for the first launch of Boeing Starliner, now set to fly to the International Space Station for a roughly 10-day mission set to go no earlier than May 1.”
Full Story (SPACE)
NASA, Boeing Target May 1 for First Crewed Starliner Flight to Space Station
Spaceflight Now reports, “NASA is five weeks away from putting astronauts aboard a new commercial crew capsule. May 1 is the target launch date for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on the Crew Flight Test-1 (CFT-1) mission the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams on board.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
AIAA Statement on Successful Starliner Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher:
“Congratulations to the entire Starliner team and NASA Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams on their launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. We are excited to witness this new capability coming online. The entire team has worked diligently to address the challenges in reaching this day. We will be eagerly following the crew’s journey.
This mission demonstrates the powerful collaboration that is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, including the launch of Boeing’s Starliner capsule on an Atlas V rocket provided by United Launch Alliance (ULA). This program is important to open up access to space for more human activities. The Starliner mission is helping extend the human neighborhood beyond planet Earth.
On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, congratulations to the entire Starliner team on their accomplishment. AIAA recognizes the countless industry professionals who have helped design, build, test, and operate Starliner. We applaud NASA and AIAA Corporate Partner Boeing and AIAA Corporate Member ULA, along with the entire Starliner team, for taking this step forward in shaping the future of aerospace.”
Media contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Video
ULA Atlas V Launch with Boeing’s Starliner Capsule
(VideoFromSpace; YouTube; Launch occurs at 4:09:32)
Wilmore and Williams Splash Down Aboard SpaceX Dragon After Nine-month Stay in Space
The Washington Post reports, “The spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore splashed down Tuesday evening in the Gulf of Mexico after a 286-day odyssey that started with a technical problem that forced NASA to swap vehicles and extend the mission from about eight days to nine months.”
Full Story (Washington Post)
Video
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Re-Entry and Splashdown
(NASA; YouTube)