Boeing's Starliner Set to Launch First Astronaut Flight
Mission Scheduled for Spring 2024
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is on track to launch its first astronaut flight this spring, NASA has announced. The Crewed Flight Test was tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2024, but was delayed due to a problem with an oxygen valve on the Atlas rocket and other setbacks.
NASA Astronauts to Embark on Mission
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will launch aboard Starliner on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The mission will mark the first time a Boeing spacecraft carries humans to space.
Economic Impact of Starliner
The Starliner program has had a significant economic impact across the United States, with over 425 suppliers in 37 states contributing to its development. The spacecraft's pusher abort system, which provides safe crew escape in case of an emergency, is a notable example of American innovation.
The successful launch and operation of Starliner will be a major milestone in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and Mars. It will also provide a valuable alternative to SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, which has been the sole provider of crewed transportation to the International Space Station since 2020.
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