Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is finally ready for its inaugural crewed launch after years of delays and setbacks during test flights. The mission, set to lift off from Florida on May 6, will carry NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station, marking a potential historic victory for the program.
Mark Nappi, vice president of Boeing’s Starliner program, praised the team for overcoming challenges along the way, emphasizing the difficulties of designing and developing a human space vehicle. Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator, noted that the launch date is not set in stone and they will proceed when ready.
The successful launch of Starliner would allow it to join SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft for routine trips to the space station, a scenario NASA has been waiting for. The two vehicles were developed under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, with Crew Dragon having already completed numerous manned missions.
Boeing faced setbacks, with issues discovered during test flights in 2022. However, the company has worked to address these challenges, including fixing parachute suspension lines and replacing flammable adhesive tape. Despite the hurdles, NASA and Boeing are committed to a successful mission.
Astronauts Williams and Wilmore expressed confidence in the spacecraft and their abilities to control it, with emergency descent modes as a backup. They emphasized the rigorous preparation and readiness of the mission control team for the upcoming launch.