Starliner Crewed Flight

The aerospace industry is currently focused on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner as it undertakes its most critical objective: the Crew Flight Test (CFT). This mission marks the first time the Starliner spacecraft carries astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), a major milestone for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The Mission: Crew Flight Test (CFT)

The Crew Flight Test is the final hurdle Boeing must clear before NASA certifies the Starliner for regular rotational missions to the ISS. While SpaceX has been ferrying astronauts since 2020, NASA has maintained a strict requirement for two independent US commercial space transportation systems. Starliner is the second piece of that puzzle.

This mission profile involves launching the capsule from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The spacecraft rides atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. This is significant because it marks the first time in history that the Atlas V family of rockets has been used for human spaceflight.

Once in orbit, the spacecraft performs a series of maneuvers to test its thrusters, communication systems, and manual control capabilities. The primary goal is to dock autonomously with the forward port of the ISS Harmony module.

Meet the Astronauts

For a test flight of this magnitude, NASA selected two of its most experienced veteran astronauts. Both are former US Navy test pilots with extensive experience on the Space Shuttle and the ISS.

  • Barry “Butch” Wilmore (Commander): A veteran of two previous spaceflights, Wilmore has accumulated 178 days in space. His role involves monitoring onboard systems and taking manual control of the spacecraft if the automated systems fail during docking or re-entry.
  • Sunita “Suni” Williams (Pilot): Williams has spent 322 days in space across her career. She holds a unique connection to this vessel; she assisted Boeing engineers during the early development phases of the Starliner, providing input on the layout of the display and control switches. She actually named the specific capsule used for this mission “Calypso,” paying homage to the ship of explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

The Spacecraft: CST-100 Starliner

The Starliner differs significantly from the Space Shuttle and its contemporary competitor, the SpaceX Crew Dragon. It is designed to be reusable up to 10 times with a six-month turnaround time between flights.

Key Technical Features

  • Landing System: Unlike the Crew Dragon, which splashes down in the ocean, the Starliner is designed to land on solid ground. It utilizes a complex system of parachutes and large airbags to cushion the impact upon landing at locations like the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
  • Controls: The cockpit features tablet technology and physical switches, a hybrid approach compared to the almost entirely touchscreen interface of the Crew Dragon.
  • Capacity: While the test flight carries two crew members, the vehicle is designed to carry up to seven passengers, or a mix of crew and cargo, for future operational missions.

Overcoming Technical Challenges

The path to this crewed flight was not a straight line. Boeing faced several years of delays following the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test (OFT-1) in 2019, which failed to reach the station due to a software clock error. A successful uncrewed re-flight (OFT-2) occurred in May 2022.

However, prior to the crewed launch, engineers discovered two critical safety issues that required immediate rectification:

  1. Parachute Soft Links: The “soft links” on the suspension lines of the three main parachutes had a lower failure load limit than previously calculated.
  2. Flammable Tape: Engineers found that P-213 tape, used extensively to wrap wiring harnesses inside the vehicle to prevent chafing, was potentially flammable under specific orbital conditions.

Boeing teams spent months removing thousands of feet of this tape and applying protective barriers to areas where removal was too risky. These fixes were mandatory to ensure the safety of Wilmore and Williams.

Why NASA Needs Starliner

You might wonder why a second spacecraft is necessary if SpaceX is already operational. NASA operates on a policy of “dissimilar redundancy.” If the Crew Dragon fleet were grounded due to a technical anomaly, the US would lose its independent access to the ISS without a backup.

By certifying Starliner, NASA ensures continuous access to the orbiting laboratory. The original contract values highlighted the different approaches, with Boeing receiving approximately \(4.2 billion and SpaceX receiving \)2.6 billion to develop their respective vehicles. Starliner provides the assurance that scientific research and station maintenance can continue regardless of issues with a single launch provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Starliner land? Starliner is the first American orbital capsule designed to land on land rather than water. It uses heat shields for re-entry, followed by parachutes to slow descent, and finally deploys large airbags to soften the touchdown in the desert.

Is the Atlas V rocket safe for humans? Yes. The Atlas V has a 100% mission success rate spanning over 90 launches for satellites and robotic probes. For the Starliner mission, ULA added an Emergency Detection System (EDS) to monitor engine health and trigger an abort if necessary.

How long will the mission last? The baseline timeline for the Crew Flight Test includes a stay at the International Space Station for roughly eight days. However, the spacecraft is capable of remaining docked for up to 45 days during this test phase if weather or technical issues delay the return.

What happens after this flight? Once the spacecraft returns safely and NASA reviews the data, the agency will likely certify the system for “Starliner-1.” This will be the first operational six-month rotation mission, joining the regular schedule alongside SpaceX missions.