The flight readiness review for Saturday's launch of the Starliner Crewed
Flight Test was held today as scheduled and mentioned in
Saturday's summary. That source stated that if the review declared it was acceptable to launch, the
Atlas V and Starliner stack will be rolled to the launch facility tomorrow. According to the statement published on NASA's Commercial Crew website:
NASA and Boeing teams polled “go” to proceed with plans to launch the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station at 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 1. During a Delta-Agency Flight Test Readiness Review Wednesday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, leaders from NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) verified launch readiness, including all systems, facilities, and teams supporting the test flight.
A backup launch opportunity is available on Sunday, June 2, with additional launch windows on Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.
Also as stated, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to the Kennedy Space Center yesterday. They will stay in quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building until Saturday’s launch.
NASA leaders with Boeing and ULA partners, will hold a prelaunch news conference at 1 p.m. EDT Friday, May 31, at Kennedy’s press auditorium.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrive back at the Launch and Landing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, ahead of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Photo credit: NASA/Cory S. Huston
Like the previous crew demo flights, the Starliner will dock to the Space Station, and the two astronauts will spend about a week aboard before returning to Earth in the Starliner capsule. Unlike the Crew Dragon capsules, Starliner is designed to land in White Sands, New Mexico with a set of parachutes and an airbag for cushioning. While that's all the sources say, I'm assuming it's the White Sands Missile Range - it's where the previous Starliner Demo 1 and 2 missions landed.
Scheduled for June 1st. So far... Still plenty of time to scrub again, and again, and again...
ReplyDeleteI'll believe it when it actually happens. I'll believe it's a successful launch and recovery when all the intel is finally reported, years later, as to what went wrong on it (like the intel on how bad Orion's heat shield performed on flight 2.)
I am surprised that NASA still does quarantines. Guessing it is just so the astronauts won't break a finger gardening or such the day before type of precaution. Still, it is an expensive way to run a production. I guess it is better than having the ground crew play rock paper scissors to decide who goes at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was to keep them from bringing up something to the ISS, like maybe a holdover from the Covid hysteria?
DeleteAnyway, "I guess it is better than having the ground crew play rock paper scissors to decide who goes at the last minute." is good line!
Medical problems in space, or during a launch, are REAL problems. Not only do they not want them to take something up there that might make the current occupants ill, they also do not want them to be seriously ill themselves. Hence the quarantine.
DeleteI'll believe it when it launches.
ReplyDeleteAnd those two should have their affairs well in order long prior to June 1st.
Looks like they are still using F5's for training, judging from the background. I recall Michael Collins talking about enjoying flying them during Apollo.
ReplyDelete