BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA and Boeing are now targeting May for the uncrewed launch of the company’s Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station.
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Boeing plans to swap out the Starliner’s service module to get the spacecraft flight-ready, but Boeing still must find a launch window for that flight.
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Boeing will also need an opening to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station.
The Starliner was rolled back to the factory last August to troubleshoot a valve issue on the spacecraft’s service module propulsion system.
Until Boeing completes its flight tests, SpaceX alone is ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil.
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In 2014, NASA selected Boeing and SpaceX to transport crew to the ISS under its Commercial Crew program. Boeing has yet to reach the space station.
After the successful launch of its second orbital flight test, Boeing is hoping to follow up with its first crewed flight test to ISS. Potential launch windows for that mission are still under review.
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