“The Boeing CST-100 Starliner docked to the International Space Station for the first time on Friday night.
The spacecraft made its first connection with the International Space Station’s (ISS) Harmony module at 8:28 p.m. EDT.
Boeing said that – in addition to ground controllers in Houston – astronauts on the space station monitored Starliner throughout the flight and sometimes commanded the spacecraft to verify control capabilities.
NASA’S BOEING ORBITAL FLIGHT TEST-2: WHAT TO KNOW
Despite the failure of a couple of thrusters, the automated rendezvous went off without a major hitch.
The Starliner launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 6:54 p.m. ET on Thursday.
The Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) is the second uncrewed test flight of a commercial crew spacecraft.
“This image from NASA TV shows the Boeing Starliner preparing to dock at the International Space Station, Friday, May 20, 2022. Boeing’s astronaut capsule has arrived at the International Space Station in a critical repeat test flight. Only a test dum (NASA via AP / AP Newsroom) The mission was designed to give Boeing and NASA enough data to certify the spacecraft for long-duration crewed missions to the ISS.
“Starliner spent its first hours in space performing a series of system demonstrations allowing mission managers to verify the spacecraft was healthy and able to maneuver safely. After docking, the Starliner recharged its batteries using solar arrays located on the service module,” Boeing said.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | THE BOEING CO. | 120.70 | -6.44 | -5.07% |
While docked, the crew of the station will float inside the Starliner, conduct an initial cabin tour and periodically perform system checkouts while ground controllers evaluate data gathered during its flight.”
Boeing Starliner docks to International Space Station for first time | Fox Business
“ ULA has about two dozen more RD-180s in the company’s factory in Decatur, Alabama, which should cover all remaining Atlas missions through 2025. ”
Looks like there is time to get the often delayed BE-4 engines in place.
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/3/22959691/russia-roscosmos-rocket-engines-ula-northrop-grumman-rd-180-181
Well I think a clap is deserved for Musk and SpaceX, Boing would still be on the ground enjoying billions $ going nowhere if they hadn´t realised they would loose their gravy train. Competition or fear of loss works. Still also well done to boing.
Off topic, but the story of how the Mars Perseverance’s little chopper, Ingenuity, is fairing is a related topic and a good one.
This little chopper was only supposed to do a few test flights but has managed 28 flights so far and has hip-hopped right along with Perseverance on it’s journey to the Martian delta where the goal is to search for signs of life. This was not expected. Naturally, there are now some glitches, but they are being delt with and hope is high even more flights are to come when they get “summer” sunlight again.
https://mars.nasa.gov/technology/helicopter/status/379/nasas-ingenuity-in-contact-with-perseverance-rover-after-communications-dropout/
Have to hand it to the steely-eyed missilemen who put that little bird together.
Has NASA fixed the spacesuit problem?
https://www.space.com/nasa-suspends-spacewalks-spacesuit-water-leak-investigation
This is just….Amazing
I keep coming back to this post just to read and remember it is REAL
Humans (regular humans) are going to travel the universe
Touchdown at White Sands. https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1529619581140099072
I like SpaceX. But it’s good to have a pinch hitter in the dugout.