Boeing and United Launch Alliance continue to move forward with Thursday evening's launch to complete the final test needed before Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft can fly astronauts to the International Space Station. FOX13
On Wednesday, teams rolled the 172-foot-tall ULA Atlas V rocket and Starliner from the hangar to the launchpad, Space Launch Complex-41, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. After the 1,800-foot journey, the vehicle will be prepped for lift-off and begin fueling.
The rocket is scheduled to lift off Thursday at 6:54 p.m. ET, sending the Starliner on its journey to the space station. No one will be on board this flight, but the Orbital Flight Test-2 is the final step before a test flight with astronauts later this year. The spacecraft's commander seat will have a manikin named "Rosie the Rocketeer." Her seat will be outfitted with sensors to collect data and better understand what human astronauts will experience. NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore said the astronauts who have been training to fly on Starliner are jealous of the manikin that gets to take the trip. "But obviously, this is part of the evolution of test," Fincke said. "We need to go up, fly the spacecraft without humans on it, demonstrate the automated systems and come back safely … we're thrilled for this because the next one is us." More than 24 hours ahead of the launch, forecasters with the Space Force 45th Weather Squadron predict a 70% chance of favorable weather for liftoff. Florida's rainy season is underway. Those isolated showers are expected to develop near or west of the launch site during the countdown, according to the 4th Weather Squadron forecast. The primary concerns for the instant launch window will include the Cumulus Cloud and the Anvil Cloud Rules. If the launch delays to Friday's backup window, weather conditions will deteriorate as winds push moisture up from the Caribbean increasing rain and cloud cover concerns.This will be Boeing's third attempt to complete the orbital flight test since 2019. In 2014, NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing to develop spacecraft to shuttle astronauts to and from the ISS under the agency's Commercial Crew Program.Both Boeing and SpaceX agreed to complete uncrewed flight tests to the ISS before flying humans. SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft recently launched its fourth long-term mission with NASA astronauts. In February, the agency bought three more commercial crew missions from SpaceX for $3 billion. Boeing's first attempt to complete the OFT in 2019 ended 48 hours after launch due to a computer glitch.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Recovered black box suggests China Eastern Boeing 737 was intentionally crashedData indicates someone in the cockpit pushed the plane into a nosedive, killing all 132 on board, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Read more »
Here's when you can watch NASA's exciting Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2NASA is once again planning to complete a Starliner launch to test the capabilities of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Here's how to watch.
Read more »
China disputes report that March crash of Boeing 737 was likely intentionalChina said Wednesday that U.S. investigators haven’t released any information about the cause of a China Eastern Airlines jetliner crash after The Wall Street Journal reported its flight data recorder indicated someone pushed the jet into a steep dive.
Read more »
Boeing tries to catch up to SpaceX after plenty of dramaCNN News, delivered. Select from our newsletters below and enter your email to subscribe.
Read more »
Boeing’s Starliner Launch Will Bring New Cargo and Science to the Space StationThe uncrewed flight includes a payload of food, provisions and a specialized flight-test dummy
Read more »
Singapore Airlines sees no big growth risk from Boeing 777X delaysSingapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) does not expect its growth plans to take a major hit because Boeing Co pushed back the date for delivery of its first 777X planes, the carrier's chief executive said on Thursday.
Read more »