Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Arrive At KSC For First Starliner Mission

Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Arrive At KSC For First Starliner Mission

April 25, 2024Posted inNASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance
Astronauts arrive for test flight of Boeing Starliner
Astronauts Willmore and William pose for photographs after arriving at the Shuttle Landing Facility in NASA T-38 jet trainer aircraft. Image by Richard P. Gallagher

Kennedy Space Center, FL – Greeted by members of the press, Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at the KSC Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) formerly known as the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) aboard a NASA T-38 jet Thursday afternoon. The two NASA astronauts will be aboard the first crewed launch of the new Boeing Starliner crew module early next month.

Launching atop a ULA Atlas V booster no earlier than May 6th at 10:34 PM EDT, the pair will head to the ISS for a 10-day stay on what will effectively be a “shakedown cruise” for the Starliner. Otherwise known as a flight certification test, a successful flight will see the Starliner routinely used to send astronauts to low Earth orbit.

Next Stop: ISS—Wilmore and Williams Prep for Starliner’s First Crewed Test Flight

Next Stop: ISS—Wilmore and Williams Prep for Starliner’s First Crewed Test Flight

April 24, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance
The official crew portrait for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Left is Suni Williams, who will serve as the pilot, and to the right is Barry “Butch” Wilmore, spacecraft commander. Photo credit: NASA
The official crew portrait for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Left is Suni Williams, who will serve as the pilot, and to the right is Barry “Butch” Wilmore, spacecraft commander. Photo credit: NASA

It’s getting real y’all. In less than two weeks, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will climb aboard the new Boeing Starliner crew capsule for a test flight that will carry them to the International Space Station for a 10-day stay. Launching no earlier than 10:34 PM EDT on May 6th, the flight represents the first crewed flight test of the Starliner.

Starliner Crew Capsule on the Move 

April 16, 2024Posted inAtlas V, KSC, NASA
Starliner Crew Capsule being moved to the vertical integration facility. Image by: Richard P Gallagher

As the aerospace community looks toward the future of crewed space travel, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is poised to become a pivotal player in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. This morning’s rollout of the crew capsule ahead of the first crewed launch marks a significant milestone for Boeing.  The Starliner spacecraft was moved from the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this morning at 4am to the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in order to be attached to the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.  

Final Flight: United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy

Final Flight: United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy

April 10, 2024Posted inDelta IV Heavy, Space News, United Launch Alliance
Storied Booster Concludes Its Service with Classified Mission
NROL-70, the final Delta IV mission, launches from CCSFS on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
NROL-70, the final Delta IV mission, launches from CCSFS on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

On a bittersweet day in in the annals of spaceflight, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) said goodbye to one of its most powerful and storied rockets. With an ontime launch at 12:53 PM EDT on April 9, the Delta IV Heavy rocket soared into the skies for its final mission, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), designated NROL-70.

Launch Date Set for Delta IV Heavy, Another Slight Shift Right For Starliner

Launch Date Set for Delta IV Heavy, Another Slight Shift Right For Starliner

April 3, 2024Posted inDelta IV Heavy, Space News, United Launch Alliance
Delta IV Heavy on March 28, 2024 Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN
Delta IV Heavy on March 28, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

Tuesday was an active day for launch scheduling: United Launch Alliance has announced that they will make their next attempt to launch Delta IV Heavy and NROL-70 on Tuesday April 9th, and later, NASA announced that the Crewed Flight Test of Boeing’s Starliner is now Monday, May 6th.

“Scrubby” Rears His Ugly Head Again

“Scrubby” Rears His Ugly Head Again

March 28, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Delta IV Heavy

3/28/24 9:18 PM UPDATE: ULA WILL NOT LAUNCH DELTA IV HEAVY ON FRIDAY – NEW DATE TBD

Scrubby Graphic
ScrubbyLogo (c) FMN

UPDATE: ULA earlier reported that they had repaired a system that caused the company to scrub today’s launch. Upon further testing, ULA determined further repairs are needed. No launch date has yet been announced, but Monday is the next opportunity.

What started out as a dicey proposition about whether the final Delta IV Heavy launch would make it off the pad on Thursday ended with a disappointing scrub. But not for the reason most thought it would be.

Boeing Starliner Launch Now NET May 1st

Boeing Starliner Launch Now NET May 1st

March 22, 2024Posted inAtlas V, Aviation and Space News, ISS, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance

Boeing’s Crewed Flight Test of Starliner has pushed a little further to the right again and is now scheduled to launch no earlier than May 1st. That shift is not due to any concerns with the vehicle or its readiness, but instead, ISS scheduling, specifically docking port availability, when astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Willmore arrive at the orbiting outpost.

Rendering of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner docked at ISS

NASA’s Steve Stich Gives Quick Starliner Update

February 28, 2024Posted inAtlas V, Aviation and Space News, NASA, Space News, United Launch Alliance
Rendering of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner docked at ISS
Graphic: Boeing Corporation

During the NASA Administrator Briefing from the Kennedy Space Center mainly centered around Crew-8 readiness today, Steve Stich, the Manager of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program gave some insight about the status of the planned first crewed flight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. That launch is currently planned for late April of this year.

Celestis: Enterprise Flight Remains On Course

January 9, 2024Posted inAviation and Space News, Space News, United Launch Alliance, Vulcan
ULA’s Vulcan lifting off in the early hours of January 8, 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer, FMN

Celestis, the Texas company that provides space-based memorial services for the families of loved ones is reporting that its Enterprise Flight payload launched on ULA’s Vulcan rocket Monday morning is successful and traveling 85 million miles (297 mil km) from Earth into deep space.

ULA’s Vulcan lifting off in the early hours of January 8, 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer, FMN

Celestis, the Texas company that provides space-based memorial services for the families of loved ones is reporting that its Enterprise Flight payload launched on ULA’s Vulcan rocket Monday morning is successful and traveling 85 million miles (297 mil km) from Earth into deep space.