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Topic: [Discuss] Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-03-2019 09:28 AM
Please use this topic to discuss Boeing's CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission to the International Space Station. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-11-2019 10:03 AM
Chris Ferguson, Mike Fincke and Nicole Mann are undergoing training for the mission, as these photos show.  Above: Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson helps NASA astronauts Nicole Mann (left) and Mike Fincke (right) train for a spacewalk inside the International Space Station Airlock Mockup at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in February.  Above: Boeing astronaut and CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test crew member Chris Ferguson trains for a contingency water landing in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  Above: NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson review International Space Station training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
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oly Member Posts: 1393 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 07-28-2019 02:03 AM
Have any details been made public regarding the steps taken to man-rate the Atlas V rocket?
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-28-2019 08:21 AM
Most of the human-rating process is comprised of system reviews and paperwork documentation. Modifications to the vehicle have included adding redundancy to some of the critical systems and configuring the Atlas to recognize and respond to anomalies more quickly, with regard to triggering the Starliner abort system. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-06-2019 01:57 PM
NASA released a crew portrait: From left to right, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson, and NASA astronaut Nicole Mann pose for the official crew portrait for Boeing's Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.  |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-28-2020 01:42 PM
From a NASA update: After a successful OFT-2, Boeing and NASA will fly Starliner’s first crewed mission, the Crew Flight Test, currently targeted for no earlier than June 2021.Recently, the CFT crew helped test software updates with real flight hardware in Boeing’s Avionics and Software Integration Lab in Houston. They practiced performing manual separation events for several low likelihood contingencies, demonstrating the software improvements had no adverse effect on controls needed to stay safe in any situation. The crew also participated in procedural dry runs for future life support tests with the Starliner spacecraft in Florida. Later this year, the CFT crew will be suited inside the spacecraft with the vehicle providing all of their life support. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-07-2020 10:10 AM
Butch Wilmore is replacing Chris Ferguson on Boeing's Starliner Crew Flight Test. Ferguson, who stepped aside for personal reasons, will serve as the director of Mission Integration and Operations. "I have full confidence in the Starliner vehicle, the men and women building and testing it, and the NASA astronauts who will ultimately fly it," Ferguson said. "The Boeing team has taken all lessons from our first uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to heart, and is making Starliner one of the safest new crewed spacecraft ever fielded. I will be here on the ground supporting Butch, Nicole and Mike while they prove it." |
David C Member Posts: 1348 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 10-09-2020 11:41 AM
I feel for Fergie having to make this move but CST-100 development has really dragged on. For Butch, Christmas has come early. |
David C Member Posts: 1348 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 09-26-2021 03:03 AM
Well, in view of the lengthy delays to OFT-2, I wonder if the Wilmore/Ferguson seat swap may get reversed? My understanding was that it came about because Fergie had personal commitments in 2021. Well 2021 will have come and gone. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-06-2021 10:38 AM
Nicole Mann has been reassigned from the Starliner Crew Flight Test to SpaceX Crew-5 "to [sooner] gain spaceflight experience for the future needs of the agency's missions," NASA has announced.Butch Wilmore and Mike Fincke will continue to provide experience for Boeing as the agency prepares for the Crew Flight Test. Additional Boeing flight assignments will be made in the future. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-19-2022 07:59 AM
NASA is waiting until after the second Starliner orbital flight test (OFT-2) to decide on the CFT crew. Per Kathy Lueders, NASA's Associate Administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate: We'll be looking at final CFT and PCM-1 timelines this summer and then we'll be making final crew selections for all for the increments coming up. The prior crew assignments were set aside after the OFT-2 launched was delayed last year, said astronaut Butch Wilmore. Since that time in August, the three of us [Wilmore, Mike Fincke and Suni Williams] have been working as a cadre supporting Starliner and we know that we are not necessarily assigned for CFT and we've known that since that timeframe. The powers that be could assign anyone they want. We hope they pick one of us three or a couple of us three to go on CFT — we've been working the program — but we've known since that time that we've been working as a cadre. Lueders said that it has not been decided yet if CFT will fly with two or three astronauts or how long the flight will be. Those decisions rely in part on when the mission will fly and the crew contingent on the space station at the time. She did say, however, that they are not looking at flying a Boeing company astronaut on CFT, only NASA astronauts. Below: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Mike Fincke and Barry "Butch" Wilmore at the launch pad on May 18, 2022, before Boeing's Orbital Flight Test-2 mission to the International Space Station. (Boeing/John Grant)  |
oly Member Posts: 1393 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 05-22-2022 11:22 PM
Given Starliner experienced more thruster issues during its orbital flight, will Boeing make changes to the thruster design before the crew flight test? |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-23-2022 07:30 AM
It depends on what Boeing learns after analyzing the data. It may not be an issue with the thrusters at all, but rather a false sensor reading (for example). Mark Nappi said whatever they learn, they will incorporate the proper time to address in the downtime between when OFT-2 lands and CFT launches. |
SpaceAngel Member Posts: 397 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
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posted 05-28-2022 11:57 AM
With the completion of OTF-2, when will NASA and Boeing set up a launch date for the Boeing CFT manned mission? |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-28-2022 11:59 AM
NASA and Boeing officials have said they expect to select a launch window, as well as the crew contingent and mission parameters later this summer. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-16-2022 02:04 PM
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been assigned to fly the two-week Crew Flight Test. Mike Fincke will train as the backup spacecraft test pilot and remains eligible for assignment to a future mission. A launch date review will take place in late July after Boeing and NASA conclude analyzing the results from Orbital Flight Test-2. |
brianjbradley Member Posts: 141 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 06-16-2022 02:53 PM
I feel bad for Jeanette Epps, who doesn't seem to be in the Starliner rotation and was so celebrated when assigned to Suni Williams' crew with Josh Cassada and Koichi Wakata. |
Paul78zephyr Member Posts: 762 From: Hudson, MA Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 06-16-2022 04:01 PM
quote: Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been assigned to fly the two-week Crew Flight Test.
Robert, so Boeing Starliner CFT will only be a crew of two? Was it always planned to be a crew of two?Also why isn't Williams the Commander - isn't her NASA experience, tenure, etc, make her the more senior astronaut? I understand they are both USN Captains. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 48561 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-16-2022 05:45 PM
The previous CFT assigment was three astronauts (first Ferguson, Mann and Boe and then Wilmore, Mann and Fincke). As explained today by NASA: Based upon current space station resources and scheduling needs, a short duration mission with two astronaut test pilots is sufficient to meet all NASA and Boeing test objectives for CFT, which include demonstrating Starliner's ability to safely fly operational crewed missions to and from the space station. To protect against unforeseen events with crew transportation to the station, NASA may extend the CFT docked duration up to six months and add an additional astronaut later, if needed. NASA did not share its reasoning as to how the mission roles (commander, pilot) were selected. quote: Originally posted by brianjbradley: I feel bad for Jeanette Epps, who doesn't seem to be in the Starliner rotation...
From NASA's release today: NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps continues to prepare for an upcoming long duration mission aboard Starliner-1. NASA also has identified backup flight opportunities for Epps on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for additional scheduling and resource flexibility. Epps has begun cross-training on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to prepare for this possibility. Epps is expected to fly on SpaceX Crew-5 if an agreement with Roscosmos to fly cosmonaut Anna Kikina cannot be reached in time for the flight. |
Gordon Eliot Reade Member Posts: 140 From: Palo Alto, Calif. Registered: Jun 2015
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posted 06-20-2022 07:08 PM
I'm very excited and looking forward to what I'm sure will be a super successful first manned flight of the Starliner. I plan to watch the launch in person. |