NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, whom the firm previously assigned as the Joint Operations Commander for CFT, will now train as the backup spacecraft test pilot and remains eligible for assignment to a future mission. Finckes special competence will continue to benefit the team as he retains his position as flight test lead, filling a vital role in Starliner certification.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, Barry “Butch” Wilmore, center, and Mike Fincke, right, view as a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeings CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard is presented of the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 ahead of the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
” Mike Fincke has devoted the last nine years of his career to these first Boeing missions and Suni the last seven. Butch has actually done a wonderful job leading the team as the spacecraft commander since 2020,” said Reid Wiseman, chief, Astronaut Office at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. “It was fantastic to see Starliners successful journey to the International Space Station during the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission last month. We are all anticipating cheering on Butch and Suni as they fly the first crewed Starliner objective.”
Wilmore, Williams, and Fincke each have flown previously as long-duration team members aboard the space station.
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps continues to prepare for an upcoming long-duration objective aboard Starliner-1. NASA also has actually determined backup flight chances for Epps on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for additional scheduling and resource versatility. Epps has actually begun cross-training on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to prepare for this possibility.
Following effective conclusion of the uncrewed OFT-2 objective, the Starliner team module has actually returned to Boeings Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will go through system checkouts and car evaluations. The Starliner team is in the process of delivering the preliminary test flight information to NASA and jointly figuring out forward work ahead of a crewed flight.
” Starliner and the Atlas V performed well throughout all stages of OFT-2, and now we are taking a systematic appearance at each system to identify what requires to be upgraded or enhanced ahead of CFT, simply as we make with every other crewed flight,” said Steve Stich, manager, NASAs Commercial Crew Program. “Additionally, Butch, Suni, and Mike have actually been instrumental in the advancement of Starliner on the course to having a second spaceport station crew transport system.”
For the crewed flight test, Boeings Starliner will release aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Following an effective CFT mission, NASA will start the last procedure of accrediting the Starliner spacecraft and systems for crew missions to the space station. Routine, long-duration industrial team rotation objectives enable NASA to continue the essential research and innovation investigations taking location aboard the orbiting laboratory. Such research advantages individuals on Earth and prepares for future exploration of the Moon and Mars, beginning with the agencys Artemis objectives, which include landing the very first female and first person of color on the lunar surface area.
CFT commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore, whom NASA appointed to the prime team in October 2020, will sign up with NASA astronaut Suni Williams, who will serve as pilot. Williams previously served as the backup test pilot for CFT while assigned as commander of NASAs Boeing Starliner-1 mission, which will be Starliners very first post-certification objective. Following successful conclusion of the uncrewed OFT-2 objective, the Starliner crew module has returned to Boeings Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will go through system checkouts and automobile assessments. Following a successful CFT objective, NASA will start the last process of licensing the Starliner spacecraft and systems for team objectives to the space station. Regular, long-duration industrial team rotation objectives allow NASA to continue the important research and innovation examinations taking place aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Boeing Starliner. Credit: Boeing
NASA will fly 2 astronaut test pilots aboard the agencys Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission to the International Space Station, where they will live and sweat off of the Earth for around two weeks.
CFT leader Barry “Butch” Wilmore, whom NASA selected to the prime crew in October 2020, will sign up with NASA astronaut Suni Williams, who will serve as pilot. Williams formerly served as the backup test pilot for CFT while assigned as commander of NASAs Boeing Starliner-1 objective, which will be Starliners first post-certification mission.
Based upon current spaceport station resources and scheduling needs, a short-duration mission with 2 astronaut test pilots is adequate to fulfill all NASA and Boeing test objectives for CFT, that include showing Starliners ability to securely fly functional crewed missions to and from the spaceport station. To protect against unexpected occasions with crew transportation to the station, NASA might extend the CFT docked period up to six months and include an additional astronaut later on, if needed.