Boeing Starliner takes to skies on its first crewed test to ISS (2024)

NASA's Boeing Starliner piloted by Sunita Williams with commander Butch Wilmore has lifted off at 12:25 hours EDT or 21:55 hours IST on board a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The crew module is headed to the International Space Station (ISS) where it will dock with the forward-facing port of the Harmony Module at 13:50 hours EDT or 23:20 hours IST. This is the first crewed test flight for the Starliner.

The Boeing Starliner lifting off on its first crewed flight. (Image Credit: NASA).

New Delhi: The first Crewed Test Flight of the Boeing Starliner has successfully lifted off on a ULA Atlas V rocket from NASA’s Spaceport at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Pilot is Indian Origin astronaut Sunita Williams while the Commander is Butch Wilmore. Sunita Williams named the ship Calypso, after the research vessel of Jacques Cousteau. The flight took place despite a very minor leak in the helium tank in the support module, which engineers assessed posed no risk to the flight. The crewed test flight took place two years after an uncrewed Boeing Starliner docked with the ISS, in May 2022.

The two astronauts entered into the crew module three hours before the flight. Wilmore got in first and was strapped in by ground support staff in his captain’s seat. Williams entered the capsule second, with a seat closer to the door. The whole process took about 20 minutes. The aluminium seats were designed to accommodate astronauts of height between 4 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 4 inches. Williams and Wilmore gave feedback on the seat design during the development of the capsule, making it more comfortable. The pre-launch proceedings were completed much ahead of schedule.

The visual zero gravity indicator on the flight was a glittery stuffed toy of a Narwhal, coincidentally, also named Calypso. The stuffed toy appears to levitate when the Starliner reaches the microgravity environment of Earth orbit. A cabin pressure test was conducted after the hatch was closed, about two hours before liftoff. The weather conditions were clear, and conducive for a launch. The countdown proceeded smoothly with the ground teams having thoroughly practiced on the procedures.

At 20:23 hours IST, the Boeing Starliner lifted off successfully on top of the ULA Atlas V. The flight was nominal, with the solid booster separating, followed by the ignition of the Centaur upper stage, and then the main engine cutoff. The Starliner separated from the Centaur upper stage 15 minutes after liftoff. Up next is the orbital insertion burn, about 31 minutes into the flight. The spacecraft then conduct a series of manoeuvres in space to test various systems and subsystems on Starliner, before docking with the ISS, at around 21:45 hours IST tomorrow, in the forward facing port of the Harmony Module.

Cargo on board Starliner

The primary goal of the flight is to validate the entire transport system, but the mission is doubling up as a cargo mission as well, ferrying 344 kg of cargo to the ISS. More than half of this is Boeing stuff, including mission patches, coins, pins and American flags. There was also a hard drive filled with 3,500 artworks from children around the world, as part of a Space Foundation outreach activity. A last-minute addition was a new pump for the urine processing assembly on board the ISS, that recovers most of the water. The technology will be essential for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Two non-essential cargo bags were swapped out to accommodate the pump. There were also tools and equipment in the cargo. NASA is sending up exercise gear, clothes, medical supplies, along with things the crew wanted to bring with them. The Starliner will return with 340 kg of cargo, a little less, including an empty nitrogen-oxygen ressuply system tank (NORS), which will be refilled for future missions. These tanks replenish the necessary gases in the airlocks during spacewalks, as well as the ISS itself.

Delays leading up to the launch

The launch has been delayed multiple times because of irregularities in the pre-launch procedures. The flight was originally supposed to take place on 7 May, because of a malfunctioning valve in the centaur upper stage. The busted valve was swapped out, with the launch rescheduled for 17 May. However, a leak was identified in the helium tank of the support module, which caused the launch to be deferred to 21 May. The ground teams assessed that the leak did not pose a risk for the flight, clearing a launch for 25 May.

The helium leak was stabilised, but the ground teams pushed the launch to 1 June, to conduct a propulsion system assessment, to better understand how the helium system impacted the return scenarios for the Starliner. Helium is not flammable and non-toxic, and the leak was only in one flange of 28 reaction control systems on board the Starliner. Space Shuttles have launched with similar leaks before, and the ground teams developed contingency plans for re-entry burns if the leak grows in size, or nearby reaction control systems (RCS) also develop a leak. A flight readyness review was also conducted before the launch, which was scheduled for 1 June.

The second launch attempt took place on 1 June. Both the astronauts entered the spaceship. The ULA ground teams reacted quickly to fix a snag in the topping valve that replenished the oxygen and helium tanks, as well as a suit fan malfunction that caused the astronauts to unzip their flexible visors, which replaced the bulky hard helmets with metal rings. However, just four miutes before liftoff, a six second delay in an expected signal in the ground launch sequencer put the launch on automated hold. The teams decided to scrub the launch, and forgo the launch opportunity on June 2. Such delays are common for brand new hardware.

A number of firsts

The Boeing Starliner is meant to ferry a crew of four to the ISS, which is the size of a standard crew rotation, but can accommodate more. For the test flight, there are only two astronauts on board. This is the first time that a crewed Boeing Starliner is flying to the ISS. On return, it will also be the first American mission to the ISS return to land. All other American missions to the ISS has ended with an ocean splashdown. Boeing opted for a ground landing to simplify the recovery operations. Williams will also be the first woman piloting an orbital craft on a test flight.

This was also the first flight of the Atlas family of rockets in 61 years. The ninth and final Mercury-Atlas flight took place on 15 May, 1963. This was only the sixth time that NASA astronauts flew the test flight of an orbital vehicle after Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Space Shuttle and the SpaceX Dragon. After the successful completion of the mission, NASA will initiate the final process of certifying the entire transport system for crew rotations to the ISS.

An alternative to the SpaceX Dragon

The Boeing Starliner is meant to be an alternative to the SpaceX Dragon, which has been carrying out the crew rotations for the American side after the retirement of the Space Shuttle, and a brief period of reliance on Russian Soyuz missions. The Boeing Starliner relies heavily on automation, with machines doing the work that previously required close coordination between the commander, the pilot and ground crew. If the situation demands it, the design allows for the crew to take over command of the capsule, which will be demonstrated in proximity with the ISS.

The Starliner has a simplified console with only 85 switches and indicators, while the Shuttle had thousands. The Starliner can be flown by a crew of one. There console on the Shuttle practically required a degree to understand and operate. The console has been made more similar to an aeroplane, as the crew are experienced pilots. Williams and Wilmore, both veteran astronauts, provided feedback to the engineers during the design and development of the Starliner. They also developed the training procedures for the brand new hardware.