Boeing Crewed Flight Test

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Boe CFT
NamesBoeing Starliner Crew Flight Test
Mission typeISS crew transport
OperatorBoeing
Mission durationTwo to four months (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftStarliner
Spacecraft typeStarliner
ManufacturerBoeing
Crew
Crew size3
MembersBarry Wilmore
Michael Fincke
TBD
Start of mission
Launch date2022 (planned)
RocketAtlas V N22
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-41
ContractorUnited Launch Alliance
End of mission
Landing date2022 (planned)
Landing siteWhite Sands Missile Range
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.66°
Docking with International Space Station
Time dockedTwo to four months (planned)
Boeing Crew Flight Test.png
Boeing insignia, featuring the Starliner and ISS with the names of the crew assigned for the mission before the changes announced in October 2021.
New Boeing CFT Crew.jpg
Mike Fincke and Barry Wilmore
Commercial Crew Development
 
Boeing Starliner flights

Boeing Crew Flight Test (Boe CFT) will be the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station, and the third orbital flight test of the Starliner overall after the two uncrewed flight tests, OFT-1 and OFT-2.[1] Though the launch date for the mission was scheduled for late 2021,[2] the delay of OFT-2 to early 2022 has pushed the launch of the CFT mission further into 2022.[3][4] It will fly with a crew of three NASA astronauts, who will remain aboard the ISS for an extended test flight.[5][6]

Capsule[]

"After removing and conducting checkouts on various systems and flight hardware, Boeing is preparing to reassemble the vehicle for flight", NASA said of the crew module for the CFT mission. "Soon, outfitting of the crew module's interior will begin along with packing parachutes and airbags ahead of installation". The CFT capsule's docking system has been modified to accommodate the new re-entry cover that will debut on the OFT-2 test flight.[7]

Crew[]

Three NASA astronauts will serve as the crew of Boe-CFT: commander Barry Wilmore, pilot Michael Fincke, and a mission specialist to be determined. Nicole Aunapu Mann was initially assigned to this mission, which would make her the first woman to fly on the maiden crewed flight of an orbital spacecraft, but subsequently reassigned to the SpaceX Crew-5 mission as the first female commander of a NASA Commercial Crew Program launch.[8]

Due to medical reasons, Eric Boe, who was originally assigned to the mission in August 2018 as pilot was replaced by Michael Fincke on 22 January 2019. Boe will replace Fincke as the assistant to the chief for commercial crew in the astronaut office at NASA's Johnson Space Center.[9] Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson was originally assigned to the flight as commander, but he was replaced by NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore on 7 October 2020. Ferguson cited family reasons for the replacement.[10] Matthew Dominick replaced him on the backup crew.[11]

Prime crew
Position Crew member
Spacecraft Commander United States Barry Wilmore, NASA
Third spaceflight
Pilot United States Michael Fincke, NASA
Fourth spaceflight
Mission Specialist United States TBA, NASA
Backup crew
Position Crew member
Spacecraft Commander United States Matthew Dominick, NASA

Mission[]

The third Atlas V N22 launch vehicle variant will launch the Starliner with a crew of three to four. The vehicle will dock with the International Space Station, and return to Earth under parachutes for a ground-landing in the United States. Boeing teams continue refurbishing the crew module from the OFT-1 mission for the Crew Flight Test. Originally the mission was scheduled to fly a shorter mission of about two weeks, although it had been speculated for sometime that, due to delays to the Commercial Crew Program, Boe CFT would be extended to a full-fledged ISS crew rotation mission. In April 2019, NASA announced the mission had been fully extended to a crew rotation mission. This will be the first launch of a crewed spacecraft by an Atlas V launch vehicle. As of October 2021, Boe CFT is expected to launch sometime in 2022, conditional on the successful completion of the OFT-2 mission.[12][4]

See also[]

  • Commercial Crew Development
  • SpaceX Dragon 2
  • Crew Dragon Demo-2, SpaceX's first crewed mission of their capsule

References[]

  1. ^ "NASA Invites Media to Prelaunch, Launch Activities for Boeing's Orbital Flight Test-2" (Press release). NASA. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Foust, Jeff (18 April 2021). "Next Starliner test flights slips to late summer". SpaceNews. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. ^ Clark, Stephen (6 October 2021). "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (13 August 2021). "Starliner test flight faces months-long delay". SpaceNews. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  5. ^ Herridge, Linda (3 April 2019). "NASA and Boeing Extend Starliner Crew Flight Test Duration to Space Station, Target New Flight Dates". NASA. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ Gebhardt, Chris (20 June 2019). "Station mission planning reveals new target Commercial Crew launch dates". nasaspaceflight.com. NASASpaceFlight.com.
  7. ^ Clark, Stephen (25 August 2020). "Boeing plans second Starliner test flight in December 2020 or January 2021". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  8. ^ NASA Announces Astronaut Changes for Upcoming Commercial Crew Missions
  9. ^ Granath, Bob (22 January 2019). "NASA Announces Updated Crew Assignment for Boeing Flight Test". NASA. Retrieved 24 January 2019. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ Roulette, Joey (7 October 2020). "Boeing's top Starliner astronaut pulls out of space mission role". Reuters. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Flight crew assignments".
  12. ^ Berger, Eric (13 April 2021). "It now seems likely that Starliner will not launch crew until early 2022". Ars Technica. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
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