Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is getting ready for its historic first voyage with Astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) today. This will demonstrate a critical step, the Starliner’s launch-to-landing capabilities. The Gumdrop-shaped Starliner with two astronauts abroad will be lifted off at 10:34pm (Local time) from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, today the 7th May 2024. The Starliner will be carried atop an Atlas V Rocket of the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA).
The Starliner had its first test flight to ISS two years before without humans, to the orbital laboratory. It is designed to carry up to seven crew members. Veteran NASA Astronaut Barry (Butch) Willmore and Sunita (Sunni) Williams are making their flight on the Starliner this time. Willmore is the designated commander for flight and Williams in the pilot seat. The Starliner is designed for autonomous flight but the crew can take control if necessary.
Once successful, the capsule will arrive at the ISS after a flight of 26 hours and dock with the ISS early Wednesday. Both Willmore and Williams will fly after one week riding the Starliner, back to earth. They will conduct a Parachute and Airbag assisted landing in the US. The Starliner will give NASA its first alternative to sending astronauts to low-earth orbit.
Disclaimer: Information collected from various sources
Read more about the Starliner at Boeing
