Tag

Commercial Crew Program

All articles tagged with #commercial crew program

space8 days ago•0 min saved

NASA Commits $359M to Revive Boeing Starliner as SpaceX Dragon Nears Retirement

NASA has committed an additional $359 million to Boeing to repair Starliner’s thrusters and certify the Vulcan Centaur rocket for crewed missions. Following a disastrous 2024 test flight that stranded astronauts for nine months, NASA plans an uncrewed Starliner-1 test in late 2026 or early 2027, with a crewed return targeted for 2028. This move secures a backup option as SpaceX prepares to retire its Crew Dragon capsule in the 2030s, though concerns remain about Starliner’s reliability and the impending retirement of the ISS.

via Futurism|

#boeing-starliner #commercial-crew-program #international-space-station

space10 days ago•118 min saved

Crew-13 completes final pre-launch checks ahead of Oct. 1 ISS mission

NASA and SpaceX have completed final pre-launch preparations for the Crew-13 mission, which is scheduled to launch on October 1. The four-person crew, including Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov, conducted a dry dress rehearsal and static fire tests at Cape Canaveral. The mission, delayed from September due to a Dragon spacecraft leak, will replace the current Expedition 75 crew and conduct long-duration science research.

via Space|

#commercial-crew-program #crew-13 #international-space-station

space3 months ago•14 min saved

SpaceX closes America's ISS crew gap, ushering in private-spaceflight era

NASA retired the Space Shuttle in 2011, leaving the ISS without an American crew vehicle and forcing reliance on Russian Soyuz. SpaceX stepped in with Dragon and Falcon 9 under fixed-price contracts, delivering cargo starting in 2012 and crewed flights beginning in 2020 with Crew Dragon Demo-2, effectively ending the long gap in U.S. access to the station. Boeing’s Starliner faced delays, but SpaceX remains the primary operational crew vehicle, as private firms and new commercial missions expand access to the ISS and future commercial stations.

via Space Daily|

#commercial-crew-program #iss #nasa

space-exploration7 months ago•55 min saved

NASA reshuffles human spaceflight leadership after Starliner findings

NASA is reshuffling its human spaceflight leadership after a critical Starliner report found serious issues in how Boeing’s first crewed Starliner flight was handled. Joel Montalbano will become acting associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate and Dana Hutcherson will be acting CCP program manager, taking over immediately, with Ken Bowersox retiring March 6 and Steve Stich remaining as an advisor to the Human Landing System. The Starliner Crew Flight Test experienced thruster problems and was reclassified as a Type A mishap, and NASA says leadership accountability is essential to maintain U.S. leadership in low Earth orbit and progress toward Artemis-era goals.

via Space|

#commercial-crew-program #iss #leadership

space-exploration7 months ago•55 min saved

NASA labels Boeing’s Starliner flight a Type A mishap after near‑catastrophic thruster issues

NASA has reclassified Boeing’s Starliner Crew Flight Test as a Type A mishap—the agency’s most serious category—after thruster failures and a temporary loss of control threatened the mission, which nonetheless docked with the ISS. NASA officials stressed that different decisions could have led to a very different outcome and apologized for past classification biases. The investigation is ongoing, Starliner won’t carry astronauts again until thruster issues are resolved, and Boeing/NASA plan a future uncrewed cargo mission to the ISS no earlier than April 2026, with the ISS retirement slated for 2030 and a push for redundant commercial crew options.

via Space|

#commercial-crew-program #mishap #nasa

science7 months ago•3 min saved

NASA Reframes Boeing Starliner Crew Test Findings: Type A Mishap and Action Plan

NASA released the final Program Investigation Team report on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crewed test, finding a mix of hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership missteps and cultural breakdowns that created risk. The mission is classified as a Type A mishap, and NASA will pursue corrective actions with Boeing before Starliner is cleared to fly again.

via NASA (.gov)|

#commercial-crew-program #crewed-flight-test #mishap

space-exploration2 years ago•6 min saved

NASA Astronauts Launch Historic First Crewed Starliner Test Flight

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have successfully launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for its first crewed test flight to the International Space Station. This mission, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, aims to validate the Starliner system for future rotational missions. The spacecraft is set to dock with the ISS on June 6, where the astronauts will conduct various tests to ensure its performance. The mission marks a significant milestone in American space exploration and the collaboration between NASA and commercial partners.

via NASA|

#commercial-crew-program #international-space-station #nasa

space-exploration2 years ago•5 min saved

Boeing's Starliner Faces Another Launch Delay with NASA Astronauts

NASA will provide live coverage of the Boeing Crew Flight Test, launching astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station on June 5. The mission aims to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems, with docking scheduled for June 6. Coverage will be available on NASA's various platforms, and the mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program to enhance space transportation.

via NASA|

#boeing-starliner #commercial-crew-program #international-space-station

space-exploration2 years ago•3 min saved

Boeing's Starliner Crewed Mission Delayed Again Minutes Before Liftoff

NASA has rescheduled the first astronaut-crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner to June 5 after a last-minute delay due to a ground power supply issue. The mission, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, aims to transport two astronauts to the International Space Station for a week-long evaluation. If successful, Starliner could be certified for routine ISS missions, complementing SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.

via ABC News|

#boeing-starliner #commercial-crew-program #international-space-station

space-exploration2 years ago•6 min saved

Boeing's Starliner Set for Crewed Launch This Saturday

NASA has updated its coverage for the Boeing Crew Flight Test launch, which was scrubbed on June 1 due to a ground launch sequencer issue. The next potential launch dates are June 2, 5, and 6. The mission will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station for a week-long stay to test the Starliner spacecraft. NASA will provide live coverage of the launch and related activities on various platforms.

via NASA|

#boeing-starliner #commercial-crew-program #international-space-station

spaceaviation2 years ago•3 min saved

"Boeing's Starliner Cleared for First Astronaut Flight After Tape Removal"

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is set for its first crewed flight to the International Space Station in May, following the removal of safety hazards including flammable tape and parachute concerns. The spacecraft, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, has faced multiple delays and setbacks, but is now ready for launch with astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore on board. This marks a significant milestone for Boeing in its efforts to provide NASA with an alternative to relying solely on SpaceX for crewed missions to the ISS.

via Gizmodo|

#boeing #commercial-crew-program #nasa

spaceaviation2 years ago•2 min saved

"Boeing Starliner's Crewed Flight to ISS Delayed to Early May"

Boeing's Starliner crewed flight to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed once again, this time due to scheduling conflicts, pushing the launch to early May. The mission aims to take two astronauts to the ISS for a brief stay before returning to Earth after one to two weeks. The Starliner program has faced a decade of delays and technical issues, but this latest delay is due to administrative reasons. Despite the setbacks, NASA will host news conferences on March 22 to discuss the mission's objectives and plans.

via TechSpot|

#boeing #commercial-crew-program #iss

space-exploration2 years ago•5 min saved

"NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 Set for March 1 Launch to ISS"

NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the Crew-8 mission to the International Space Station on March 1, carrying NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin for a six-month stay. The mission will be the fifth for the Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Endeavour, and NASA is working with SpaceX to extend its certification for up to 15 flights. Additionally, Boeing's CST-100 Starliner is slated for its first crewed flight in April, amidst a busy schedule of missions to the ISS.

via SpaceNews|

#commercial-crew-program #crew-8 #international-space-station

spacescience2 years ago•2 min saved

"NASA's Starliner Mission: Astronaut Launch and Crucial Upgrades"

NASA invites media to apply for accreditation to cover the launch of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station, the company’s first Starliner spacecraft mission with crew, scheduled for mid-April 2024. The mission will test the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner system, and successful completion will lead to the certification of Starliner and systems for crewed missions to the space station. U.S. media can also apply for a photo opportunity during the rollout of the Starliner spacecraft from Boeing’s Commercial Cargo and Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

via NASA|

#boeing #commercial-crew-program #international-space-station

space-exploration2 years ago•1 min saved

"SpaceX Reschedules NASA's Crew-8 Launch for Late February"

NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the eighth crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) on March 1, 2024. The mission will be carried out by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and will include crew members from Roscosmos and NASA. Launch viewing tickets are available for purchase, offering access to the Apollo/Saturn V Center Premium LTT for an enhanced experience.

via Kennedy Space Center|

#commercial-crew-program #falcon-9 #international-space-station