NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test Targets Launch Opportunities

by Sumer Loggins | 2024-05-01

NASA and mission partners continue to evaluate a path forward toward launching the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The teams are now working toward a launch opportunity at 11:25 a.m. CDT on Saturday, June 1, with additional opportunities on Sunday, June 2, Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6.

Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Pilot Sunita “Suni” Williams are set to make history as the first astronauts to launch into space aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission. The crew will command the new spacecraft and lead the hands-on in-flight testing of its various systems and capabilities, including maneuvering and docking.

Two astronauts, a man and a woman, are walking on a tarmac during dusk. They are dressed in blue flight suits with mission patches and are carrying green flight bags. Behind them, a hangar with aircraft is visible. — *NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) crew Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore at Ellington Field on March 26, 2024. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz*

The flight test will carry Williams and Wilmore to the space station for about a week to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems before NASA certifies the transportation system for rotational missions to the orbiting laboratory for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Both Williams and Wilmore have served as U.S. Navy captains and have each completed two previous missions to the International Space Station.

A spacecraft approaches the International Space Station, captured against the black backdrop of space. The spacecraft is predominantly white with blue and gray markings. — Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft approaches the International Space Station for the uncrewed Orbital Test Flight-2 (OFT-2) mission before automatically docking to the Harmony module's forward port. Credit: NASA/Bob Hines

***

NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) will host a joint media teleconference at 10 a.m. CDT Friday, May 24.

Participants in the briefing include:

NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free
Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate
Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
Dana Weigel, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
Gary Wentz, vice president, Government and Commercial Programs, ULA

Stream the audio-only teleconference on NASA TV.

A person in a blue flight suit gives a thumbs up inside of a jet.

Two people in blue flight suits sit inside of a jet. — *NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore (right) sit inside a T-38 trainer jet at Ellington Field. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz*

Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date operations information.