Fresh Take on the Boeing Starliner Launch
Live Stream: First Attempted Crewed Launch by Boeing to the International Space Station
Here's the lowdown on Boeing's scheduled crewed test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA. The action goes down on Monday, May 8, at 10:34 p.m. ET, blasting off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Boeing Starliner spacecraft, strapped atop United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket, carries astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams towards the ISS and back.
NASA will be streaming the launch live on their website and YouTube channel. The pre-launch festivities kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Boeing's crewed Starliner mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program—a deal worth a whopping $4.3 billion to transport crew and cargo to and from the ISS. SpaceX, NASA's other commercial partner, recently sent their eighth crew to the space station.
The road to this launch has been bumpy for Boeing. Starliner's initial uncrewed test flight in 2019, while reaching space, was marred by a software automation glitch. This blunder resulted in excessive fuel consumption and an inability to reach the ISS. The spacecraft incorrectly calculated its position due to a glitch caused by a damaged mission elapsed timer.
In light of the mishap, NASA required a second test flight of the empty spacecraft before a crew took the ride. After finishing the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) in May 2022, the stage was set for a crewed test flight. However, OFT-2 encountered a few hitches, including a failed thruster used for orbital maneuvering.
The crewed Starliner launch was initially scheduled for February 2023, then moved to late April, and eventually bumped to July 21, 2023. Right before lift-off, the company announced they were standing down from the launch attempt to tackle issues with the crew vehicle.
Needless to say, this program has seen its fair share of troubles and delays, making Monday's launch an edge-of-your-seat moment.
For more cosmic excitement, hook up with us on X and make a beeline for Gizmodo's dedicated Spaceflight page. Keep your fingers crossed, space enthusiasts!
- The upcoming space flight of the Boeing Starliner, scheduled for May 8, 2023, will be a crucial moment for space technology and the future of science, as it aims to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) using liquid propellants launched by United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket.
- As we look towards the future of space exploration, the commercial partnership between NASA and Boeing, worth $4.3 billion, promises to transport crew and cargo to the ISS, joining the efforts of NASA's other commercial partner, SpaceX.
- The journey of the Boeing Starliner has been marked by challenges, such as the software automation glitch during its initial uncrewed test flight in 2019 and the failed thruster encountered during the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) in May 2022. Despite these setbacks, the successful OFT-2 paved the way for the crewed test flight.
- As space enthusiasts eagerly await the liftoff of the Boeing Starliner, they can keep up to date with the latest cosmic news by visiting Gizmodo's Spaceflight page or bookmarking their website.
