Two NASA astronauts are set to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft, marking its first crewed test flight. The launch is planned from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 22:34 local time on Monday, which is 03:34 BST on Tuesday. This mission has faced multiple delays due to various development setbacks, but if successful, it will mark the second private company, after Elon Musk’s SpaceX, able to transport astronauts to and from the ISS.
NASA has shifted its approach to space travel, choosing to outsource crew transportation to private companies instead of owning and operating its spacecraft. While this change has allowed NASA to focus on other projects, it has also meant intense scrutiny for companies like Boeing, especially with their troubled airline division and difficulties in Starliner’s development.
Boeing’s Starliner project has experienced numerous delays and technical issues since its inception. The initial uncrewed test flight, originally planned for 2015, was delayed until 2019 due to software glitches and other technical challenges. When it finally launched, an internal clock error caused thrusters to overfire, preventing the capsule from reaching the ISS. Subsequent test flights in 2021 and 2022 were postponed due to propulsion system issues and other complications, including concerns about thrusters and the cooling system.
Despite these setbacks, NASA and Boeing have indicated confidence in Starliner’s readiness for this crewed test flight. They are committed to aborting the launch if any problems arise. During a pre-flight news conference, astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who will be piloting Starliner, expressed confidence in the spacecraft’s safety, dismissing the idea that the delays were “scary.” Instead, they described them as necessary steps in the development process, emphasizing that safety is their top priority.
NASA awarded contracts to both SpaceX and Boeing to take over crew transportation from the retired space shuttles. The contracts are substantial, with SpaceX’s valued at $2.6 billion and Boeing’s at $4.2 billion. While SpaceX successfully completed its first crewed test flight in 2020, Boeing is four years behind and has faced significant costs in addressing technical issues. This has raised questions about Boeing’s traditional approach to technology development compared to SpaceX’s faster-paced, iterative methods.
Mark Nappi, Boeing’s commercial crew program manager, acknowledged that finding and addressing faults is part of the development process, indicating that the company’s trajectory is upward despite the setbacks. The successful entry of Starliner into service is expected to create competition with SpaceX, potentially reducing costs for NASA and other space agencies, such as the UK Space Agency, that rely on private sector transportation to the ISS.
Starliner is a 5-meter-tall and 4.6-meter-wide spacecraft, capable of carrying up to seven astronauts but typically flying with four. It is designed to be reusable, with the potential to be flown up to ten times. Unlike previous U.S. capsules that splashed down in the ocean, Starliner is designed to land on solid ground in the southwestern United States, using a heat shield, parachutes, and airbags to cushion its impact.
During this test flight, the astronauts will evaluate various systems, including onboard life-support, navigation, and cargo movement into the ISS. They will also test new spacesuits that are lighter and more flexible, featuring touchscreen-sensitive gloves for tablet use. If the mission is successful, Starliner will be certified for regular crew missions to the ISS, with the next launch planned for early next year, carrying four astronauts along with equipment and supplies.
This launch represents a significant milestone in the history of space travel, as noted by Caleb Henry from the space consultancy firm Quilty. The increasing involvement of private companies in space travel is driving innovation, frequency, and new opportunities for exploration.
 aboard Boeing's new Starliner spacecraft){kind=link}