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The United States’ Second Private Crew-Carrying Spacecraft Prepares for Flight
The United States is gearing up to launch its second private crew-carrying spacecraft, as NASA and Boeing have recently given the green light for the Crew Flight Test (CFT) of Boeing’s Starliner. This historic mission, scheduled for liftoff on May 6, marks a significant milestone in the agency’s commercial crew program. Starliner will join SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as the second spacecraft funded by NASA to transport astronauts to space.
Steve Stich, the program manager for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, expressed excitement over the availability of a second transportation system for crewed missions. Having two distinct spacecraft with different procedures and support teams provides essential redundancy in case one becomes unavailable due to safety concerns or other issues.
Mission Details and Astronaut Crew
The upcoming CFT mission will carry two NASA veteran astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former Navy test pilots. Designed as a “developmental” mission, CFT will allow for adjustments based on lessons learned during the flight. Successful completion of CFT will pave the way for six-month missions to the International Space Station (ISS) next year.
Both SpaceX and Boeing were awarded contracts by NASA in 2014 to ferry astronauts to and from the ISS. While SpaceX has been operational since 2020 and has completed multiple crewed missions, Boeing’s Starliner faced delays and technical challenges during its uncrewed test flights.
Redundancy and Safety
Having multiple options for crewed spaceflights is crucial for ensuring the continuous crewing of the ISS, which relies on human presence for maintenance and life support functions. The addition of Starliner will provide backup capabilities for the station, complementing Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, which has been transporting astronauts to the ISS since 1998.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has also proven to be a reliable partner in crewed missions to the ISS. Dana Weigel, program manager for the ISS, highlighted the importance of having contingency plans and redundancy in spacecraft systems to ensure crew safety and operational continuity.
Key Milestones and Testing
Boeing’s Starliner must undergo rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure its readiness for crewed missions. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s commercial crew program, outlined critical milestones for the spacecraft, including system performance, thruster evaluations, navigation systems, and reentry procedures.
Stich emphasized that the commercial crew program allows flexibility for contractors like Boeing and SpaceX to operate according to their preferences while meeting safety standards. The diverse operational approaches of the two companies contribute to a robust and adaptable crew transportation system for NASA’s future missions.
As NASA looks ahead to crewed missions to the Moon with the Artemis program, the experience gained from commercial crew operations will be invaluable in preparing for future exploration endeavors.
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