NASA places order for second Starliner from Boeing
Last week, NASA ordered the second crewed mission from Boeing, bringing the U.S. space agency one step closer to launching astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) from U.S. soil – something NASA has been unable to do for more than four years.
In addition to getting a second order from NASA, Boeing also successfully completed several interim developmental milestones for the firm’s Starliner spacecraft, as well as United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V rocket and related ground support system.
“Once certified by NASA, the Boeing CST-100 Starliner, and SpaceX Crew Dragon each will be capable of two crew launches to the station per year,” said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). “Placing orders for those missions now really sets us up for a sustainable future aboard the International Space Station.”
The first test flights of the Commercial Crew Program will be conducted by astronauts Robert Behnken, Sunita Williams, Eric Boe, and Douglas Hurley. Who goes on what mission has yet to be decided. Photo Credit: James Blair / NASA
This order marks the third of four guaranteed launch orders to be provided to either Boeing or SpaceX under Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts.
Boeing received its first launch order in May of 2015. SpaceX obtained their first order in November 2015. Orders under CCtCap are made up to three years in advance to give the companies time to assemble and test the vehicles.
Boeing is already ramping up production of the Starliner. The structural test article is under development at the company’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility located at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Additionally, the crew access tower’s main column has been placed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41.
Additionally, rocket parts are coming together in Huntsville, Alabama; whereas at Boeing’s facility in St. Louis, the company is busy installing flight simulators.
“As our company begins its second century, our Starliner program continues Boeing’s tradition of space industry innovation with commercial service to the space station,” said John Mulholland, vice president and manager of Boeing’s CCP. “We value NASA’s confidence in the Starliner system to keep their crews safe.”
It is hoped that capabilities at the ISS will increase with the arrival of these new spacecraft. Both Boeing and SpaceX’s capsules are capable of transporting seven astronauts to and from the station as opposed to the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, which has a maximum of three.
“With the commercial crew vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX, we will soon add a seventh crew member to International Space Station missions, which will significantly increase the amount of crew time to conduct research,” said Kirk Shireman, manager for the ISS Program. “This will enable NASA and our partners to ramp up the important research being done every day for the benefit of all humanity.”
Before any launch can occur, both firms will have to successfully complete the NASA certification process managed under the CCP. NASA is working with both firms to verify their work meets the agency’s safety and operational requirements. The contracts for SpaceX and Boeing include two flights at a minimum and a potential maximum of six missions. Additional milestones will include a series of reviews and approvals prior to any launch.
Joe Latrell
Joe Latrell is a life-long avid space enthusiast having created his own rocket company in Roswell, NM in addition to other consumer space endeavors. He continues to design, build and launch his own rockets and has a passion to see the next generation excited about the opportunities of space exploration. Joe lends his experiences from the corporate and small business arenas to organizations such as Teachers In Space, Inc. He is also actively engaged in his church investing his many skills to assist this and other non-profit endeavors.
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