What to Know About Boeing Starliner’s First Crewed Test Flight

NASA intends to deploy the reusable capsule for crew rotation missions to the International Space Station, but the program has been marred by delays.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, May 01, 2024 at 04:41 PM ET

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Boeing’s reusable Starliner capsule approaches the International Space Station. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner is set to undertake its first crewed flight test, a critical mission after nearly a decade of delays and significant cost overruns.
A successful test will validate Starliner for routine astronaut transport to the International Space Station (ISS), aiming to certify it as NASA's second commercial crew vehicle.
This mission is vital for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, providing a crucial redundant option to SpaceX's Crew Dragon and reducing the agency's sole reliance on one provider for ISS missions.
If successful, the Starliner will enable Boeing to fulfill its contract for future service missions, bolstering U.S. human spaceflight capabilities for the ISS and future deep-space exploration.

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A historic NASA launch planned for early next week could have major implications for the space agency’s Commercial Crew Program, which ferries astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and low-Earth orbit in partnership with private companies.

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, a semireusable vessel to the ISS that has been marred by nearly a decade of delays, will finally make its first crewed flight test on Monday, barring any further hiccups. Boeing on Friday confirmed that NASA gave Starliner the “go to proceed.”