Boeing's Starliner on the Brink of First Crewed Flight, Paving Way for Future Missions

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — Boeing's Starliner crew capsule, plagued by years of setbacks and cost overruns totaling approximately $1.5 billion, is set for its first human-crewed flight on May 6. This marks a significant milestone for the aerospace company, which was chosen a decade ago alongside SpaceX to develop a spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts from U.S. soil to the International Space Station (ISS). The goal was to end NASA's reliance on Russia for such missions.

While SpaceX's Crew Dragon has successfully completed numerous missions since its maiden flight in 2020, Boeing's Starliner has faced numerous challenges to reach this point. Now, the capsule stands ready at Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex-41, attached to a ULA Atlas V rocket that will send it on its way to the ISS.

The flight will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been training extensively for years in preparation for this mission. Not only is this Starliner's first crewed flight, but it will also be just the third flight for the spacecraft overall. During its second Orbital Flight Test in 2022, Starliner successfully demonstrated its ability to reach, dock, and undock from the ISS. However, its initial attempt in 2019 was hampered by a software issue that caused it to burn too much fuel, preventing it from reaching the station.

Beyond these issues, Boeing's journey with Starliner has been fraught with other technical setbacks, including a toxic fuel leak in 2018 and corroded propulsion valves that delayed the 2021 launch. Despite these setbacks, Boeing and NASA have emphasized the spacecraft's readiness after rigorous review processes, aiming to add the capsule to NASA's crew transport rotation for ISS missions.

"The first crewed flight of a new spacecraft is an absolutely critical milestone," said NASA associate administrator Jim Free, emphasizing the importance of this mission. The spacecraft has undergone extensive testing, and while it can operate autonomously, the crew will also test its manual controls and assess its performance in various scenarios.

Once docked to the ISS, the crew will spend about a week on the station, conducting equipment checks and collaborating with Expedition 71. Afterward, they'll undock and head back to Earth, testing Starliner's reentry and landing capabilities with several potential landing sites in the southwestern U.S.

This flight represents a crucial step in Starliner's journey toward certification, with NASA targeting 2025 for the spacecraft to begin operational missions. Despite the challenges encountered, the successful completion of this mission will cement Starliner’s role in providing NASA with redundancy in human space transportation.

As astronaut Wilmore put it, “We are ready, the spacecraft’s ready, and the teams are ready,” expressing confidence in the mission and the spacecraft. Should the flight not proceed as scheduled on May 6, backup windows are available on May 7, 10, and 11, ensuring ample opportunities for this critical mission to finally take flight.