BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Teams from NASA and Boeing gathered at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday for a flight readiness review ahead of a second un-crewed flight test for their CST-100 Starliner spacecraft.
The vessel first launched in 2019, but software issues prevented it from ever reaching the International Space station.
READ: Couple gets engaged after firefighters rescue ring from car fire
“It does seem like the rocket and the spacecraft are ready,” Dr. Ken Kremer of Space Upclose said. “But the stakes are extremely high after one failure and then a launch delay last year.”
Now, teams are targeting Thursday, May 19 at 6:54 p.m. for the launch of the Boeing Starliner’s second orbital flight test under NASA’s new Commercial Crew program.
On May 19, @BoeingSpace's #Starliner spacecraft will launch on a @ULALaunch Atlas V rocket for its uncrewed test to the @Space_Station.
— NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) May 11, 2022
Interested in learning more about Orbital Flight Test-2? Join our virtual @NASASocial for a behind-the-scenes look: https://t.co/iAFRkKeS2N pic.twitter.com/vXQOoOuzzZ
READ: Baby formula shortage: FDA approves plan to release some Abbott-produced formula
The focus Wednesday was on the CST-100 Starliner system, mission operations, support functions, and the readiness of the space station to support the un-crewed flight.
“What NASA wants are two competing systems which are dissimilar to get our astronauts to the International Space Station,” Kremer said. “If one of them goes down, we still have another one.”
SpaceX, NASA’s other commercial crew partner, recently launched its fourth operational mission to the ISS. Boeing could fly its first crewed flight test before the end of the year, but only after the successful completion of an un-crewed flight.
READ: Judge strikes down DeSantis’ new plan for congressional map
“Everything has to go extremely well,” Kremer said.
Teams are expected to provide another status update on the launch after the flight readiness review is complete.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2022 Cox Media Group
