In a significant step toward expanding crewed spaceflight capabilities, Boeing has rolled its Starliner spacecraft from its Kennedy Space Center facility to the United Launch Alliance's (ULA) launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This milestone indicates that final preparations are underway for Starliner's first crewed flight to the International Space Station (ISS), with NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams set to fly it.
A Long Road to the Launch Pad
Boeing's journey to the first crewed flight has been fraught with delays and challenges. However, with fueling completed and the spacecraft now in position at Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41), the stage is set for the historic liftoff, which is tentatively scheduled for May 7. The flight will take place on an Atlas V rocket equipped with a special Centaur upper stage featuring two RL-10 engines—a unique configuration for human spaceflight.
The additional engine on the Centaur stage is necessary due to the specific trajectory required for crewed missions and the need for redundant safety options. This Atlas V variant, known as N22, signifies "no" fairing, two solid rocket motors, and two engines on the second stage.
Fueling and Preparations
Last week, Boeing completed the fueling process for
Starliner's attitude control thrusters and abort system. Similar to SpaceX's
Dragon, Starliner uses hypergolic fuel, a highly toxic substance that can be
stored at room temperature for extended periods. Following fueling, the
spacecraft was moved overnight from Kennedy Space Center to the Vertical
Integration Facility at SLC-41, where it was hoisted and attached atop the
Centaur upper stage.
Addressing Past Issues
Starliner’s journey to this point has not been without setbacks. The first uncrewed test flight, Orbital Flight Test-1 (OFT-1), nearly ended in disaster due to several technical issues. Fortunately, the second test flight, OFT-2, returned with a largely successful mission, albeit with a few items requiring further attention.
Delays leading up to this crewed test flight were primarily
due to late discoveries of less-than-capable parachute attachment points and
the use of flammable tape in the spacecraft's construction. These issues
prompted a thorough review and new parachute tests, culminating in NASA's
approval for the upcoming mission.
A Test Flight with High Stakes
The crewed test flight, also known as the Boeing Crewed Flight Test (CFT), is designed to be a short-duration mission to evaluate the spacecraft's systems. Unlike SpaceX's Crew Dragon's first crewed flight in 2020, which featured an extended multi-week mission with spacewalks, Starliner CFT will likely be more focused on validating key functions before operational missions.
If successful, this mission will pave the way for Boeing's
first operational crew rotation to the ISS, possibly in 2025. This development
is crucial to maintain redundancy in crew transportation as the ISS approaches
its anticipated retirement in 2030. With contracts for six missions each with
SpaceX and Boeing, the success of Starliner CFT will determine the path forward
for crewed missions in the coming years.
A Bright Future for Crewed Spaceflight
The progress made with Starliner underscores the importance of having multiple providers for crewed space missions. It ensures resilience in the face of technical challenges and enhances the overall safety and flexibility of space exploration.
As Boeing and ULA conduct final checks and NASA prepares for
the upcoming launch, the entire space community holds its breath, hoping for a
successful and uneventful mission. If all goes well, Starliner will join
SpaceX's Dragon as a reliable option for transporting astronauts to and from
the ISS, fostering a new era of collaborative and competitive spaceflight.
