After years of anticipation, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule is able to fly its first crew into area on the a centesimal flight of an Atlas V launch car. Capping off Starliner’s take a look at marketing campaign, the Crew Flight Check (CFT) will ship Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams on a trajectory to rendezvous with the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) the place they are going to stay for a few week.
Launch was initially scheduled for Might 6, however was scrubbed slightly below two hours earlier than the flight because of a problem with an oxygen aid valve on the Centaur higher stage. After analyzing the problem, ULA has determined to switch the defective valve and can roll the launch car again to the Vertical Integration Facility to carry out the work. Liftoff is now scheduled for no sooner than Might 17 at 6:16 PM EDT (22:16 UTC). The crew will stay in quarantine awaiting their subsequent launch try.
Whereas CFT would be the first crewed flight on Starliner, it’s going to additionally mark the primary flight of people on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, in addition to the primary crewed flight from Cape Canaveral Area Power Station since Apollo 7 in 1968.
When it does launch, Starliner will be a part of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon within the rotation of autos contracted to deliver crews to and from the ISS for long-duration stays.
Earlier flight exams
In September 2014, NASA introduced that SpaceX and Boeing would every obtain a contract as a part of the Business Crew Transportation Functionality contracts. The plan was to get two impartial spacecraft up and operating concurrently as a type of redundancy within the occasion one thing have been to occur to one of many autos, leaving it out of fee. The primary uncrewed take a look at flight of Crew Dragon occurred in March 2019 with the Demo-1 mission, which docked to the ISS with out crew and returned safely.
Demo-2 noticed the return of US crew launch functionality launching on Might 30, 2020, safely bringing Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS and again.
The Starliner OFT-1 Atlas V previous to first stage cutoff on Dec 20, 2019. (Credit score Joseph Navin for NSF)
Concurrently, Boeing was engaged on their take a look at program for Starliner.
The primary flight take a look at, initially named Orbital Flight Check and later renamed Orbital Flight Check 1 (OFT-1), lifted off on Dec. 20, 2019. Nicknamed Calypso, the spacecraft launched efficiently, nonetheless, it encountered a major problem whereas making an attempt to enter its deliberate orbit previous to an ISS rendezvous and docking.
A later investigation discovered that the mission elapsed timer had polled incorrectly, ensuing within the spacecraft not executing its orbit insertion burn on the deliberate time. This left it in a secure orbit, however unable to finish its main goal of docking to the Station, even after the burn was ultimately commanded manually.
As well as, a software program concern with the service module separation sequence was discovered in the course of the mission, which might have resulted in a lack of car had it not been recognized and glued earlier than Starliner’s return to flight. The capsule landed safely on the White Sands Missile Vary in New Mexico after a shorter-than-planned mission.
Groups course of the OFT-1 Starliner car after touchdown. (Credit score: NASA)
This resulted within the want for an unplanned second uncrewed flight take a look at, Orbital Flight Check 2 (OFT-2), which confronted its personal points.
Initially scheduled to launch in August 2021, the try was scrubbed as soon as indicators on the spacecraft famous 13 valves within the service module’s propulsion system have been in an incorrect configuration.
Whereas they tried to repair the problems whereas nonetheless hooked up to the Atlas V rocket inside ULA’s Vertical Integration Facility (VIF), 4 valves remained caught. That resulted within the destacking of Starliner, which was then despatched again to Boeing’s facility for repairs.
The foundation reason for the valve concern was decided to be corrosion from nitric acid, which had fashioned because of water vapor within the air reacting with the dinitrogen tetroxide that Starliner makes use of as an oxidizer. This led to the substitute of the service module, utilizing one initially deliberate for the CFT mission because it contained a nitrogen purge system meant to assist mitigate the issue together with different processing and fueling process modifications.
Starliner lifts off on the uncrewed OFT-2 mission from Cape Canaveral Area Power Station. (Credit score: Stephen Marr for NSF)
OFT-2 efficiently launched on Might 19, 2022, docking to the ISS simply in the future later. After slightly below six days in area, the capsule efficiently landed in New Mexico on its airbags, paving the way in which for CFT.
The crew
The lineup for who would fly on the primary crew flight take a look at of Starliner has modified through the years. The unique lineup was to incorporate astronauts Nicole Mann and Eric Boe. Mann ultimately flew aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on the Crew-5 mission in October 2022. Boe was discovered unable to fly because of a medical situation. He’s presently the chief of the Car Integration Check Workplace at NASA’s Johnson Area Heart, working intently with each Crew Dragon and Starliner crewmembers.
Spacecraft Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore can be making his third spaceflight. Chosen as an astronaut in 2000, Wilmore has greater than 8,000 flight hours in tactical jet plane. A graduate of the US Naval Check Pilot College, he accomplished 663 service landings, flying 21 fight missions throughout Operation Desert Storm.
Wilmore’s first flight was aboard Area Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-129 mission in 2009. The ten-day mission to the ISS delivered two Categorical Logistics Service racks plus round 30,000 kilos of spare components to assist with Station orientation.
Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams arrive on the Kennedy Area Heart forward of the Boeing CFT mission. (Credit score: Max Evans for NSF)
His second flight noticed him spending 167 days aboard the Station as a member of the Expedition 41/42 crew, launching on Soyuz TMA-14M in September 2014 alongside two cosmonauts. Over the course of his missions, Wilmore additionally logged greater than 25 hours of spacewalking time throughout 4 EVAs.
Additionally getting her begin within the Navy, Sunita “Suni” Williams flew H-46 helicopters and noticed abroad deployments to the Mediterranean, Pink Sea, and the Persian Gulf throughout Operation Desert Protect. She later joined the US Naval Check Pilot College in 1993.
5 years later, Williams was chosen as a NASA astronaut. Her profession with NASA really started in Russia working with Roscosmos to help Expedition 1, the primary long-duration mission aboard the ISS. Williams then performed science underwater throughout NEEMO2, happening in an underwater science laboratory, for 5 days.
Her first spaceflight project was as a member of Expedition 14/15. Initially launching aboard Discovery on the STS-116 mission in 2006, she remained for 192 days. Through the keep, she accomplished 4 spacewalks. She landed again on Earth aboard Atlantis on STS-117 in June 2007.
Williams returned to the ISS for Expedition 32/33, launching aboard Soyuz TMA-05M in July 2012. Apart from taking on as ISS Commander for Expedition 33, she additionally turned the primary particular person to finish a triathlon in area. Â Rather than the swimming portion, Williams used a resistive train gadget to do weightlifting and resistance workout routines that approximate swimming in microgravity. The station already has a treadmill and recumbent bicycle to finish the total triathlon.
Throughout her four-month keep, she accomplished a further three spacewalks, bringing her whole EVA time to 50 hours and 40 minutes, a document on the time.
Williams landed in November 2012, marking the top of a 127-day mission. She presently has a complete of 321 days mixed in area.
The spacecraft
The Crew Area Transport 100 (CST-100) capsule flying this mission is called Calypso. Chosen by astronaut Suni Williams, it was named after Jacques Cousteau’s oceanography vessel, RV Calypso, and up to now, is the one Starliner capsule to obtain a reputation.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule named Calypso is moved to SLC-41 for the Boeing CFT flight. (Credit score: Max Evans for NSF)
Altogether, the car consists of a capsule and a service module. The capsule measures 4.5 meters (15 toes) in diameter, which is barely bigger than an Apollo capsule but smaller than the Orion capsule which NASA is utilizing as a part of the Artemis program. The capsule can carry a most of seven folks into orbit. Whereas this flight will solely have a crew of two, the plan is to launch operational missions with a crew of 4, with an elective fifth seat. Starliner is able to staying in orbit, based on Boeing, for seven months.
Mixed with the service module, Starliner stands 5 meters (16.5 toes) tall. The service module, which stays hooked up to the capsule till simply previous to reentry, comprises 4 launch abort engines designed by Aerojet Rocketdyne. These are supposed to pull the spacecraft away within the occasion of an on-pad or in-flight downside.
The service module can be geared up with 28 response management system (RCS) engines for on-orbit maneuvering. These are along with 20 orbital maneuvering and angle management (OMAC) engines used to maneuver and separate the capsule. The photo voltaic panels for Starliner are additionally situated on the aft aspect of the service module.
The capsule is moreover geared up with 12 RCS thrusters of its personal.
When it comes time for reentry, the bottom warmth protect, manufactured from Boeing Light-weight Ablator, takes on the warmth of reentry. The warmth protect is a honeycomb-like construction that’s hand-filled with the ablator. In areas that obtain much less warmth, the capsule is roofed with a mixture of thermal blankets and warmth protect tiles, each of which have Area Shuttle heritage.
As soon as by way of the thicker a part of the ambiance, the warmth shields are jettisoned, the parachutes deploy, and the airbags inflate to cushion the desert touchdown.
The launch car
The Starliner car and crew will launch aboard ULA’s workhorse Atlas V rocket. Though Atlas V itself has not launched crew, early Atlas rockets flew the primary American astronauts into orbit. Initially starting growth as a long-range ballistic missile launch car for the Military Air Power in 1946, it was later tailored to fly Mercury missions. That included John Glenn’s Friendship 7 in 1962, marking the primary time an American astronaut orbited the Earth. Atlas additionally noticed later use within the launching of Agena goal autos for the Gemini program.
Starliner OFT-1 mission launches on Atlas V. (Credit score: Mike Deep for NSF)
Whereas nonetheless Atlas by title, the car launching Starliner has superior fairly dramatically. This specific Atlas, the a centesimal Atlas V, will fly in what is called the N22 configuration. The Atlas V may have its normal RD-180 engine, which comprises two thrust chambers, serving to to elevate the car off the pad. Atop the car would be the capsule, which isn’t enclosed inside a payload fairing, as denoted by the “N.” Two strap-on stable rocket boosters, manufactured by Aerojet Rocketdyne, present a further 1.55 meganewtons (348,500 kilos) of thrust. That is marked by the primary “2” within the configuration.
The second “2” represents the variety of second-stage RL-10A-4-2 engines. The pair energy the 12.6-meter-long (41.5 foot) Centaur higher stage. The Centaur is a cryogenic car, fueled by liquid hydrogen, completely different than the kerosene-based rocket propellant 1 (RP-1) used within the first stage.
Included for the Starliner flights is the Centaur Ahead Adapter (CFA) in addition to the car’s Emergency Detection System (EDS). The CFA offers electrical interfaces with the spacecraft amongst different duties. The EDS screens for any indication {that a} failure is imminent. Consequently, that is additionally answerable for the jettison of the ascent cowl and initiates Starliner spacecraft separation.
Zip line to lifeline: @ULALaunch + #Starliner emergency egress system covers 1,300+ toes, reaches 40 mph in 30 seconds #SS33 #BoeingSpace pic.twitter.com/7NxTfNrA9v
— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) April 2, 2017
The launch pad can be geared up with an Emergency Egress System (EES). Located on stage 12 of the Crew Entry Tower (CAT), the identical stage the place the crew enters Starliner, it consists of zipline-style wires and a harness for crew and pad crew members to make use of in case of an emergency.
Every harness consists of handles that permit the particular person to manage their velocity, together with coming to a clean cease on the finish. Within the occasion the crewmember forgets to brake, 30 toes of springs assist gradual the particular person to the touch down within the touchdown zone. The system is able to supporting as much as 20 personnel.
Launch Profile
Ambient temperature RP-1 gasoline was loaded onto the launch car two days earlier than scheduled liftoff. Loading of cryogenic propellants for the car, together with liquid oxygen for each phases and liquid hydrogen for the Centaur , begins six hours earlier than the scheduled liftoff time and takes one hour and 55 minutes to finish. Only one minute after the car is loaded with propellant, at L-4 hours 4 minutes, the countdown enters a maintain. Whereas referred to as the T-4 minute maintain, it’s going to cease the T- clock for 4 hours. Throughout that point, the L- clock will repeatedly rely right down to liftoff.
About three hours earlier than launch, the crew will depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Facility, earlier than being pushed to SLC-41. The 2 astronauts will trip an elevator as much as stage 12 of the CAT. The astronauts will then stroll throughout the Crew Entry Arm (CAA) and thru the white room to be strapped inside Calypso.
Hatch closure is predicted one hour and 25 minutes earlier than launch, adopted ten minutes later by prelaunch cabin leak checks. If all goes effectively, the cabin pressurization can be accomplished earlier than the L-1 hour mark.
The nominal flight profile for the Boeing CFT launch aboard Atlas V N22. (Credit score: ULA)
At L-20 minutes, the launch conductor begins the terminal rely briefing, adopted two minutes later by the ballot for Starliner to enter its terminal rely. At L-Quarter-hour, if all is go, CST-100 will swap to inside energy.
The CAA retracts at L-10 minutes leaving one last go/no-go ballot. At L-8 minutes, the Atlas V crew conducts its readiness ballot to proceed with the terminal rely. Assuming all groups are go, Starliner is configured for the terminal rely at L-4 minutes 45 seconds.
At 4 minutes to launch, the T- clock resumes, which means that the T- and L- clocks are synchronized.
At T-1 minute, Starliner is formally configured for launch.
At T-2.7 seconds, the RD-180 engine ignites, adopted by the ignition of the SRBs, with liftoff anticipated at T+1.1 seconds.
The car will then start its pitch/yaw maneuver to position it on a trajectory to rendezvous with the ISS. The car is predicted to achieve max Q at T+1 minute 1 second, passing the velocity of sound 4 seconds later.
At two minutes 20 seconds into flight, the 2 SRBs will jettison, leaving the RD-180 to fireside by itself for one more two minutes and eight seconds.
Then comes a number of occasions in speedy succession. Booster engine cutoff (BECO) happens 4 minutes 28 seconds after launch. Six seconds later, the Atlas booster separates from the Centaur higher stage. The ascent cowl is jettisoned six seconds after that, adopted by Centaur’s first predominant engine begin (MES-1) at T+4 minutes 44 seconds.
Try the mission profile video to learn the way ULA’s #AtlasV rocket will launch @BoeingSpace‘s #Starliner #CFT mission for @NASA‘s @Commercial_Crew Program. pic.twitter.com/NPYMgY5kdh
— ULA (@ulalaunch) Might 2, 2024
20 seconds after that, the aeroskirt is jettisoned. The RL-10A engines will hearth for the rest of the ascent, reaching predominant engine cutoff (MECO) at T+11 minutes 55 seconds.
The Centaur with Starliner hooked up will coast for roughly three minutes, with Calypso and her crew let loose from the launch car at T+14 minutes 55 seconds.
If all goes as deliberate, the car can be launched on a suborbital trajectory of 157 by 62 kilometers (98 by 39 miles) inclined 51.6 levels to the equator. The capsule will carry out its orbital insertion burn at 31 minutes into the flight.
Rendezvous and docking
As soon as in a steady orbit and on track for the ISS, Starliner begins its rendezvous process. In a take a look at distinctive to the CFT, astronauts will take a look at out the handbook flight management system on the way in which to the ISS, along with the automated methods already flown by the capsule on the 2 earlier Orbital Flight Check missions.
Roughly two days after launch, the crew will shut in on the station, performing two peak adjustment and aircraft change maneuvers adopted by a coelliptic and aircraft change burn. Another burn will place the spacecraft contained in the ISS method ellipsoid, an imaginary 4 by 2 by 2-kilometer (2.5 by 1.2 by 1.2-mile) ellipsoid, centered on the ISS middle of mass.
Starliner must pause 200 meters away from the station earlier than coming into what is called the “maintain out sphere.” This imaginary sphere will formally place the spacecraft inside the world managed by Station flight controllers on the bottom.
Starliner previous to ISS docking on the OFT-2 flight. (Credit score: Bob Hines/NASA)
The capsule will proceed towards the Worldwide Docking Adapter situated on the forward-facing port of the Concord module. The port was beforehand occupied by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour, which delivered the Crew-8 astronauts to the ISS following a launch on March 3, 2024. That car was moved on Might 2 to Concord’s space-facing zenith port to make room for Starliner.
Calypso will cease 10 meters from the docking goal awaiting one last go to proceed. If given the go, the capsule will autonomously dock to the station, marking the primary time a crewed Starliner capsule is hooked up to the ISS.
Undocking and touchdown
As soon as prepared and cleared to depart the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will enter the capsule and start the undocking course of. The capsule will carry out a fly-around maneuver, getting distinctive views of the ISS, earlier than exiting the method ellipsoid to start preparations for deorbit.
Whereas positioned over the Pacific Ocean, the service module will conduct the deorbit burn, slowing the car down sufficient to interface with Earth’s ambiance and start re-entry. Following the burn, the service module will detach and dissipate.
Drogue chutes deploy from a Starliner take a look at article throughout a parachute reliability take a look at. (Credit score: Boeing)
The crew module’s descent by way of the ambiance will see the outside attain temperatures of 1,650 levels Celsius (3,000 levels Fahrenheit). As soon as the car reaches 9 kilometers (30,000 toes) above the bottom, Starliner will jettison the ahead warmth protect which protects the parachutes throughout reentry.
First to deploy are two drogue chutes to start slowing the spacecraft down. As soon as these are jettisoned, the three predominant orange and white parachutes will deploy and inflate, dramatically slowing the car down.
As soon as over its touchdown goal in White Sands, New Mexico, airbags will inflate 0.9 kilometers (3,000 toes) above the bottom, permitting them to cushion the crew for a softer touchdown as soon as they contact the bottom.
If all goes effectively, the primary operational mission to the ISS, Starliner-1, will launch on a six-month mission no sooner than 2025.
(Lead picture: The Atlas V with Starliner rolls out to the launch pad forward of the CFT mission. Credit score: Max Evans for NSF)
