After several delays, all systems are "go" for Boeing's Starliner crew ship to embark on its long-awaited test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission marks a significant milestone as it will be the capsule's first crewed journey with astronauts aboard.
ULA's Atlas V rocket with Boeing Space's Starliner spacecraft is seen at sunset at SLC-41, photo credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
"From a station standpoint, from our crew, from our ground teams, we are ready to go fly this mission," said Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's space station program. "We're excited that we are on the doorstep of this historic mission."
"I've talked to them, and they have every confidence in our rocket, they have every confidence in our spacecraft, in our operations teams and in our management teams," said astronaut Mike Fincke, training to command a Starliner mission next year. "They are definitely ready to go."
Countdown and Liftoff
The launch is scheduled for 12:25 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 1. The Starliner will ride atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. ULA engineers will begin fueling the rocket around 6:30 a.m., and veteran NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams will strap in three hours before liftoff.
Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams (Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett)
Once in orbit, the Atlas 5 will propel the Starliner toward the ISS, initiating a 25-hour rendezvous. Docking is expected at 1:50 p.m. on Sunday. If all goes well, Wilmore and Williams will spend about a week aboard the ISS before returning to Earth on June 10. Their landing site will be determined based on weather conditions, with options in Arizona or New Mexico.
Astronaut Mike Fincke, who is training to command a future Starliner mission, expressed confidence in the spacecraft, rocket, and operational teams. The crew is fully prepared for this historic mission.
In a last-minute addition, the Starliner will carry a urine processor pump module to replace a failed one on the ISS. To accommodate this 150-pound component, some personal items were removed from the ship. However, generic supplies are available on board for the astronauts' hygiene needs.
Troubleshooting Challenges
The road to this launch has been bumpy. On May 6, ULA engineers detected problems with a relief valve in the rocket's Centaur upper stage, leading to a scrubbed launch. After resolving that issue, a small helium leak was discovered in the Starliner's propulsion system. Mission managers determined that the spacecraft could still fly safely despite this leak.
Backup Plans
In the unlikely event that the helium leak worsens during flight, backup plans are in place. The affected thrusters would be isolated, and the de-orbit "burn" would be executed using other unaffected reaction control system jets.
In case of any unforeseen issues, backup launch dates are set for June 2, June 5, and June 6.
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