The uncrewed flight test was designed to check the end-to-end capabilities of the crew-capable system as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program. OFT-2 will offer important information for NASA licensing Boeings team transportation system for regular flights with astronauts to and from the space station.
Starliner is set up to leave the area station on Wednesday, May 25, when it will undock and return to Earth, with a desert landing in the western U.S. The spacecraft will return with more than 600 pounds of cargo, including Nitrogen Oxygen Recharge System recyclable tanks that offer breathable air to station team members. The tanks will be reconditioned on Earth and returned to the station on a future flight.
NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Kjell Lindgren welcome “Rosie the Rocketeer” inside the Boeing Starliner spacecraft soon after opening its hatch. Credit: NASA
Astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS) opened the hatch for the first time to Boeings CST-100 Starliner spacecraft at 12:04 p.m. EDT Saturday, May 21, on its uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2).
Starliner launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on a flight test to the International Space Station at 6:54 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The uncrewed spacecraft effectively docked to the spaceport stations Harmony module at 8:28 p.m. EDT Friday, May 20.
Rosie the Rocketeer, Boeings anthropometric test device, declared her spot once again in the commanders seat inside the companys CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for its second uncrewed Orbital Flight Test for NASAs Commercial Crew Program. Rosies very first flight, OFT, offered numerous information points about what astronauts will experience during flight. For OFT-2, she will assist maintain Starliners center of gravity during climb, docking, landing, and undocking. Credit: Boeing/John Proferes
For the flight test, Starliner brought about 500 pounds of NASA cargo and crew materials and more than 300 pounds of Boeing cargo to the International Space Station. Following accreditation, NASA objectives aboard Starliner will bring approximately four crew members to the orbiting outpost, allowing the continued expansion of the team and increasing the amount of science and research study that can be carried out aboard the space laboratory.
Rosie the Rocketeer, Boeings anthropometric test device, claimed her area as soon as again in the leaders seat inside the companys CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for its second uncrewed Orbital Flight Test for NASAs Commercial Crew Program. For OFT-2, she will assist maintain Starliners center of gravity during climb, undocking, docking, and landing. Starliner is set up to depart the space station on Wednesday, May 25, when it will undock and return to Earth, with a desert landing in the western U.S.