After years of hard work and patience, Boeing is all set to send astronauts to space via their new capsule, made for space travel to the International Space Station for NASA.
Its first flight will have astronauts on board with a crew of NASA pilots to check the aircraft. The journey will extend to a week-long visit to the International Space Station.
NASA has turned to US companies for space rides, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has made nine taxi trips for NASA since 2020, while Boeing has managed only a pair of unoccupied test flights.
Boeing program manager Mark Nappi wishes Starliner was further along. “There’s no doubt about that, but we’re here now”. The aircraft is set for its pilot space travel on the 6th of May night. Provided this test run is a success, NASA will alternate space travel between SpaceX and Boeing.
Capsule: Boeing’s Starliner capsule boasts a striking white exterior accented with black and blue trim. Standing at approximately 10 feet (3 meters) tall and 15 feet (4.5 meters) in diameter, it offers accommodation for up to seven individuals, although NASA missions typically comprise four crew members. The moniker “Starliner” was selected nearly a decade ago, drawing inspiration from Boeing’s earlier aircraft, the Stratoliner, and its contemporary airliner, the Dreamliner.
Crew: Seasoned NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both retired Navy captains with extensive experience, previously undertook extended missions aboard the International Space Station. They stepped in to join the test flight following the withdrawal of the original crew due to ongoing delays. Wilmore, aged 61, hails from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, where he served as a combat pilot, while Williams, aged 58, originates from Needham, Massachusetts, and has a background as a helicopter pilot. With their deep involvement in the capsule’s development, Wilmore and Williams assert Starliner’s readiness for flight, emphasizing their confidence by personally committing to the launch.