In a historic milestone for space exploration, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft successfully completed its first crewed flight on June 5, 2024, marking a significant step forward in commercial space travel. The spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:52 a.m. ET, embarking on a 25-hour journey to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, known as the NASA-Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT), marks the beginning of a new era in human spaceflight.
Mission Objectives
The Starliner’s mission includes several critical phases, beginning with launch and ascent. After a 25-hour journey, the spacecraft will perform an autonomous docking with the ISS, utilizing advanced navigation and control systems to align and attach itself to the station’s docking port. During their week-long stay on the ISS, astronauts Wilmore and Williams will conduct various scientific experiments and technology demonstrations.
Following their stay, the Starliner will undock from the ISS, initiating the return journey to Earth. The spacecraft will autonomously navigate away from the station, re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere, and deploy its parachutes to slow its descent. The capsule’s heat shield, made of Boeing’s Lightweight Ablator, will protect it from the intense heat of re-entry.
For landing, the Starliner is equipped with airbags that will deploy just before touchdown, ensuring a safe and cushioned landing on solid ground. The entire landing process is designed to be smooth and safe, minimizing the impact on the crew and any cargo on board.
Cutting-Edge Spacecraft Design
Boeing’s Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner, developed in collaboration with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, is a state-of-the-art spacecraft designed for missions to low-Earth orbit. Capable of accommodating up to seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo, the Starliner is intended to carry up to four NASA-sponsored crew members and time-critical scientific research to the ISS. Notably, the Starliner features an innovative weldless structure and is reusable up to 10 times with a six-month turnaround time. Additionally, it boasts wireless internet and tablet technology for crew interfaces, enhancing communication and operational efficiency.
The spacecraft combines a proven capsule architecture with 21st-century innovations, making it a robust and versatile vehicle for space missions. The weldless design eliminates the structural risks associated with traditional welds, reducing mass and production time while enhancing overall safety and integrity. The Starliner also incorporates Boeing’s Lightweight Ablator for its re-entry heat shield, providing efficient thermal protection during atmospheric re-entry.
To ensure safety throughout the mission, the Starliner is equipped with a pusher abort system, enabling safe crew escape during the launch and ascent phases. The spacecraft’s wireless internet capabilities facilitate crew communication and entertainment, as well as seamless docking with the ISS using the NASA Docking System. For added protection, Boeing modified the docking system design prior to the Orbital Flight Test 2 (OFT-2), adding a re-entry cover below the expendable nosecone, similar to SpaceX’s Dragon 2 design.
The spacecraft’s propulsion system includes 64 strategically positioned jets that allow for precise navigation and fault tolerance. If a jet misfires, the system can compensate by activating other jets to ensure the spacecraft remains on course. This level of redundancy and fault isolation is a hallmark of the Starliner’s design, enhancing its reliability and safety.
Impressive Dimensions and Capabilities
The Starliner consists of a reusable capsule and an expendable service module, designed for missions to low Earth orbit. The capsule, measuring 4.56 meters (15 feet) in diameter and 5.03 meters (16.5 feet) in height, accommodates seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo. For NASA missions to the ISS, it will carry four passengers and a small amount of cargo. The service module, which provides propulsion and power-generation capacity, is 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) in diameter and 1.78 meters (5 feet 10 inches) in length.
The service module includes four Rocketdyne RS-88 engines burning hypergolic propellants, used for launch escape capability in the event of an abort. Solar cells provided by Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab are installed onto the aft face of the service module, providing 2.9 kW of electricity. The service module and an aeroskirt integrated into the launch vehicle adapter enhance aerodynamic stability during launch and ascent.
Extensive Testing Campaign
The primary objectives of this mission include testing the spacecraft’s avionics, docking and landing systems, and overall performance in orbit with a human crew. Wilmore and Williams, who are the first to launch on an Atlas V rocket, will conduct a series of flight test objectives, including manually flying the Starliner. Along with the two crew members, Starliner is carrying about 760 pounds (345 kilograms) of cargo. Once docked to the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will spend about a week on the station before returning to Earth.
To prepare for the Crew Flight Test, Boeing and NASA conducted an extensive testing campaign that included hundreds of simulated missions. This rigorous testing ensured that the spacecraft’s systems and the crew were fully prepared for every possible scenario. Boeing-developed training devices provided Starliner crews with comprehensive training on the spacecraft’s advanced systems, ensuring astronauts could handle any situation that might arise in space, even with a spacecraft designed to operate autonomously.
Advanced Launch Technology
The Atlas V rocket, used for the Starliner launch, represents the evolution of Atlas rockets over four decades. The heritage of Atlas rockets dates back to 1962, when John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth, launched aboard an Atlas LV-3B rocket from Cape Canaveral. For Starliner missions, the Atlas V has been specially configured to meet the demands of crewed spaceflight.
The first stage booster of the Atlas V, powered by the RD-180 engine, delivers more than 860,000 pounds of thrust at liftoff. This liquid oxygen/liquid kerosene engine features two thrust chambers and includes systems for hydraulics, pneumatics, and thrust vector gimbaling. The Atlas V Common Booster Core, standing 106 feet tall with a 12.5-foot diameter, houses the fuel and powers the RD-180 engine. Additionally, a pair of solid rocket boosters (SRBs) manufactured by Aerojet provide a combined thrust of over 1.6 million pounds at liftoff, with each SRB capable of approximately 380,000 pounds of thrust.
The 400 Series Interstage Adapter connects the first and second stages, designed to be both strong and lightweight to manage launch forces. The Centaur upper stage, used for Starliner missions, is equipped with two RL10A-4-2 engines, offering enhanced thrust and helping to shape the ascent trajectory to the ISS. An Emergency Detection System monitors launch vehicle parameters and can signal an abort command for crew safety if necessary. The launch vehicle adapter and a specially designed aeroskirt enhance aerodynamic characteristics and stability for the unique crew configuration of the Atlas V.
Economic and Collaborative Impact
The Starliner’s economic impact is significant, with over 425 suppliers across 37 states contributing to its development. The collaboration with NASA and United Launch Alliance (ULA) has been instrumental in the success of the Starliner program, embodying the partnership between NASA and the commercial space industry to advance space exploration.
“This crew flight test represents the beginning of a new era of space exploration as we watch astronauts Wilmore and Williams put Boeing’s Starliner through its paces on the way to the International Space Station,” said Boeing Defense, Space & Security President and CEO Ted Colbert. “This is a great start. We look forward to getting the astronauts safely to the space station and back home.”
Future Missions and Certification
Following the successful completion of this crewed flight, Boeing and NASA will analyze the data collected to prepare for subsequent operational missions. This launch marks the first time a U.S. commercial spacecraft has transported humans to the space station since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.
The successful launch of Boeing’s Starliner on its maiden crewed voyage underscores a new era in space travel, driven by innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision of expanding human presence in space. As the Starliner continues its journey, the world watches in anticipation of the next chapter in the story of space exploration.
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