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The First Starliner Crew’s Quarantine Ahead of Scheduled Launch
The upcoming launch scheduled for May 6 will see the first crew aboard Boeing Starliner in quarantine. The two NASA astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams, commenced standard pre-flight quarantine on Tuesday, April 22, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. This critical step is essential for ensuring the health and safety of the crew before liftoff and preventing any potential sickness during their stay at the International Space Station.
During the quarantine period, astronaut interactions are limited, with most communication being remote. Family members and select launch team members may also undergo quarantine or clearance before interacting with the crew. The astronauts are preparing for their mission, Crew Flight Test (CFT), which will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) near Orlando, Florida. Notably, they will be the first humans to fly on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
Commercial Crew Missions to the ISS
In 2014, Boeing and SpaceX were awarded contracts by NASA for commercial crew missions to the International Space Station (ISS). This initiative marked a significant shift from NASA’s space shuttle program, which concluded in 2011 after three decades of service in transporting astronauts to the ISS.
Boeing’s contract for the Starliner amounts to $4.2 billion, while SpaceX’s is valued at $2.6 billion. SpaceX has been conducting operational ISS missions using Crew Dragon since 2020, whereas Starliner faced delays, pushing back its human spaceflight timeline by four years.
Technical Challenges and Safety Measures
Throughout the development of Starliner, engineers encountered and resolved various technical issues, especially following the unsuccessful uncrewed test flight in 2019. Subsequent investigations in 2022 and 2023 revealed additional concerns, leading to necessary delays in the program.
Despite setbacks, the mission team remains confident in the readiness of the spacecraft. The astronauts, Williams and Wilmore, bring extensive experience as former U.S. Navy test pilots, prepared to address any challenges that may arise during the flight.
Following a recent flight test readiness review, NASA’s commercial crew program authorized the CFT mission for launch on April 18. Another review is scheduled for April 25, the same day the astronauts will travel to KSC for final launch preparations.
Future Missions and Astronaut Quarantine Facilities
Looking ahead, the first operational mission for Starliner, known as Starliner-1, is expected to take place in early 2025 at the earliest, with a crew comprising NASA’s Scott Tingle, NASA’s Mike Fincke, and the Canadian Space Agency’s Joshua Kutryk.
Besides SpaceX and Boeing, Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft has been pivotal in ferrying astronauts to the ISS since its inception in 1998. For NASA astronauts, occasional Soyuz flights serve technical and policy-related purposes.
NASA maintains several quarantine facilities for astronauts and their support teams. JSC’s NASA Astronaut Quarantine Facility boasts 12 private sleeping quarters, along with amenities such as restrooms, a fitness room, and a fully-equipped kitchen. KSC’s Astronaut Crew Quarters, housed within the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, offers a comprehensive array of facilities, including bedrooms, a suit room for pre-launch preparations, a gym, conference rooms, medical exam rooms, and more.
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