Boeing Sending First Astronaut Crew to Space After Years of Delay

 

Boeing is finally ready to send its first astronaut crew to space next week, after years of delay and more than $1 billion in cost overruns. The CST-100 Starliner space capsule will ferry two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in a final demonstration before the spacecraft can be approved to fly routine space trips under the space agency's commercial crew program.

The mission, scheduled for May 8, will be a critical milestone for Boeing, which has struggled to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX in the commercial space market. Starliner's development has been marred by software and engineering issues, including a failed uncrewed mission to the ISS in 2019.

Despite the setbacks, NASA has maintained confidence in Boeing's ability to deliver a safe and reliable spacecraft. The agency has doubled its oversight of Starliner since the 2019 failure and has worked closely with Boeing to address the issues.

The Starliner spacecraft, a gumdrop-shaped pod with room for up to seven astronauts, has undergone significant changes since its failed mission in 2019. Boeing has made improvements to the spacecraft's software and engineering, and has conducted several successful tests, including a second uncrewed mission to the ISS in 2022.

The upcoming crewed mission will be a critical test of Starliner's capabilities and will pave the way for future commercial missions to the ISS and beyond. NASA has already contracted Boeing to fly six astronaut missions to the ISS once Starliner is certified as safe for flight.

The development woes have cost Boeing more than $1.5 billion in charges, and NASA roughly $325 million in boosts to Boeing's $4.2 billion fixed-price Starliner contract. Meanwhile, SpaceX's Crew Dragon has obtained several more flights from NASA as Boeing's Starliner remains in development.

Despite the challenges, Boeing remains committed to its commercial space program and is looking forward to the upcoming mission. "The first crewed flight of a new spacecraft is an absolutely critical milestone," said NASA associate administrator Jim Free. "The lives of our crew members, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are at stake."

Williams, 58, is a former Naval test pilot with experience flying over 30 different aircraft, and has logged 322 days in space over two missions since her first flight in 2007. Wilmore, 61, a retired Navy captain, has logged 178 days in space since his first of two space missions in 2009.

The mission will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 8 at 10:34 p.m. ET (0234 GMT on Tuesday). If successful, it will mark a significant milestone for Boeing and NASA's commercial crew program, and will pave the way for future commercial missions to the ISS and beyond.