NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have arrived in Florida, preparing for a historic test flight aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The Crew Flight Test (CFT) is a critical step in validating the performance of Boeing’s systems, bringing the nation closer to having two unique human transportation systems to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
Extensive Testing and Upcoming Objectives
The Starliner spacecraft has undergone extensive testing, including an uncrewed flight test in May 2022, which successfully docked with the ISS and returned to Earth. The CFT will test various systems and maneuvers, including launch, normal trajectory to orbital insertion, launch of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V and dual-engine Centaur second stage, ascent abort emergency detection system validation, and Starliner separation from the Atlas V rocket. Additionally, the astronauts will conduct manual maneuvers, such as pointing the solar arrays toward the sun on the way to the ISS and confirming backup controls while undocking and departing the ISS.