Boeing’s Starliner Capsule Mission Extended
Boeing’s Starliner capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station on June 6, 2024, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on a Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission. Originally scheduled for a week-long stay, NASA has announced an extension of the mission until June 18, allowing for a spacewalk on June 13.
This marks the third spaceflight for the Starliner capsule, following previous uncrewed test flights. Despite encountering issues with the parachute system and wiring during the debut voyage, the capsule has overcome these challenges and is on track for certification to conduct six-month astronaut missions to the ISS.
Boeing and SpaceX were awarded contracts by NASA in 2014 to provide crew transportation services to the ISS. While SpaceX has already completed multiple long-duration crewed flights, Boeing’s Starliner is making significant progress towards achieving the same capability.
Overall, the extension of the Starliner mission demonstrates the continued advancements in commercial crew spaceflight and the partnership between NASA and private aerospace companies.
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