After a nearly month-long delay, NASA and its mission partners say it’s almost time to send two astronauts to the International Space Station for Boeing’s crew flight test. The historic launch, which was originally canceled on May 6 and June 1 and delayed several times in between, will be the first time humans have flown aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Here’s everything you need to know about the historic Starliner mission scheduled to launch Wednesday.>>> Click here to watch live streams. About the mission: In this mission, two NASA astronauts will travel to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which will be installed atop United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket. Officials say it will take the astronauts about a week to get there. The purpose of the mission is to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems, including maneuvering and docking, before NASA can certify the spacecraft for rotational missions. When does the launch take place? The Starliner mission is scheduled to lift off at 10:52 a.m. Wednesday, June 5. Where is the launch taking place? The Atlas V rocket and Starliner spacecraft will take off from the Cape Canaveral space station. Who are the astronauts? The test in Boeing’s crew flight will be the first time humans have traveled aboard Starliner, which has flown in the past without passengers. Two veteran NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will be on board. Wilmore will be commander of the mission and has been a NASA astronaut since July 2000. He is a veteran of two spaceflights. Williams will be the pilot of the mission and has been a NASA astronaut since 1998. She is a veteran of two space missions. The two astronauts returned home after the mission’s numerous delays, but returned to central Florida last week for the June 1 launch attempt. During the last check Wednesday morning, the two astronauts were in place inside the spacecraft. They will spend eight days on the International Space Station if all goes as planned. Why was the mission delayed? When the initial cleanup was called in on May 6, officials cited the cause as a mechanical problem involving “a self-regulating liquid oxygen solenoid relief valve on the Centaur upper stage” of the Atlas V rocket. brought the rocket back to its Vertical Integration Facility at the Cape Canaveral Space Station and successfully replaced the pressure regulating valve, which prevents the oxygen tank from building up too much pressure. The launch was moved to May 17 to allow for more testing, but was pushed back to May 21 when Boeing said Starliner teams were working to resolve a small helium leak. detected in the spacecraft service module. Then the launch was pushed back to May 25 when officials announced they once again needed more time to resolve the issue. Ultimately, officials said they would abandon this May 25 launch attempt altogether. The launch was indefinitely on hold until officials declared they were ready for a June 1 launch attempt. Last week, mission partners requested “move forward” to continue plans for this launch and launched the Atlas V rocket onto the pad for the first time since the initial cleanup. On Saturday, the countdown was going smoothly, when suddenly authorities cleaned the launch just minutes before liftoff. This sudden cleaning was due to the breakdown of some ground support equipment. ULA said its crews worked overnight to identify the problem and were able to replace a faulty electrical power system in their ground operations computers. At last check, ULA said the system was now operational. works normally after a number of functionality checks. Where can I watch the launch in person? There will be several viewing locations to watch the launch of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Some include: Playalinda BeachSpace Launch Complex 1Kennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexMax Brewer BridgePort CanaveralKelly ParkCocoa Beach PierTo learn more about all in-person viewing locations, click here.Where can I watch the launch online?WESH 2 will stream the entire launching from wesh.com, our free WESH 2 app and on WESH Facebook. The free WESH 2 app is available in the iTunes App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices.
After a nearly month-long delay, NASA and its mission partners say it’s almost time to send two astronauts to the International Space Station for Boeing’s crew flight test.
The historic launch, initially canceled on May 6 and June 1 and delayed several times in the meantime, will be the first time humans will fly aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
Here’s everything you need to know about the historic Starliner mission scheduled to launch on Wednesday.
>>> Click here to watch live streams.
About the mission:
As part of this mission, two NASA astronauts will travel to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which will sit atop United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket.
Officials say it will take the astronauts about a week to get there.
The purpose of the mission is to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems, including maneuvering and docking, before NASA can certify the spacecraft for rotational missions.
When is the launch?
The Starliner mission is scheduled to take off at 10:52 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5.
Where is the launch?
The Atlas V rocket and Starliner spacecraft will take off from the Cape Canaveral space station.
Who are the astronauts?
The Boeing Crew Flight Test will be the first time humans will travel aboard the Starliner, which has flown in the past without passengers.
Two veteran NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will be on board.
Wilmore will be the mission commander and has been an astronaut for NASA since July 2000. He is a veteran of two space flights.
Williams will be the mission’s pilot and has been a NASA astronaut since 1998. She is a veteran of two space missions.
The two astronauts returned home after the mission’s numerous delays, but returned to central Florida last week for the June 1 launch attempt.
During the last check Wednesday morning, the two astronauts were in place inside the spacecraft.
The two men will spend eight days on the International Space Station if all goes as planned.
Why was the mission delayed?
When the initial cleanup was called in on May 6, officials cited the cause as a mechanical problem involving “a self-regulating liquid oxygen discharge solenoid valve on the Centaur upper stage” of the Atlas V rocket.
Officials returned the rocket to its vertical integration facility at the Cape Canaveral space station and successfully replaced the pressure control valve, which prevents the oxygen tank from building up too much pressure.
The launch was delayed until May 17 to allow for more testing, but was pushed back to May 21 when Boeing said Starliner teams were working to resolve a small helium leak detected in the spacecraft’s service module.
The launch was then pushed back to May 25 when officials announced they once again needed more time to resolve the issue.
Ultimately, officials said they would abandon this May 25 launch attempt altogether.
The launch was suspended indefinitely until officials said they were ready for a June 1 launch attempt.
Last week, mission partners called “go ahead” to move forward with plans for this launch and deployed the Atlas V rocket to the pad for the first time since the initial cleanup.
On Saturday, the countdown was going smoothly, when suddenly authorities cleaned the launch just minutes before liftoff. The sudden friction was due to the failure of some ground support equipment.
ULA said its teams worked overnight to identify the problem and were able to replace a faulty power supply system in their ground operations computers.
At last check, ULA said the system was now operating normally after a number of functionality checks.
Where can I attend the launch in person?
There will be several viewing locations to witness the launch of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Some include:
- Playalinda Beach
- Space Launch Complex 1
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
- Max Brewer Bridge
- Port Canaveral
- Kelly Park
- Cocoa Beach Pier
To learn more about all the places to visit in person, click here.
Where can I watch the launch online?
WESH 2 will stream the entire launch from wesh.com, our free WESH 2 app and on WESH Facebook.
The free WESH 2 app is available in the iTunes App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices.