Boeing may soon conduct manned missions to the International Space Stational (ISS). Earlier this month, the private aerospace manufacturing company completed a dry run of its Starliner crew capsule. Of course, it wasn’t a live test. Rather, it was a simulation. Nonetheless, the successful completion of the simulation test was a testament to Boeing’s ability to conduct manned missions in the near future.
What Is Starliner?
Starliner is a crew capsule that’s being designed and manufactured by Boeing. It’s part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Commercial Crew Program. With the Commercial Crew Program, NASA is seeking assistance from private aerospace manufacturing companies to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. Both Boeing and Airbus are participants of the Commercial Crew Program. The crew capsule that Boeing is developing is known as Starliner.
SpaceX is developing its own crew capsule as well. Known as the Crew Dragon, it will be used for the same purpose of sending astronauts to and from the ISS. Both the Crew Dragon and the Starliner are a class of reusable spacecraft. Boeing’s is the Starliner, whereas SpaceX’s is the Crew Dragon.
About the Starliner’s Recent Test
In May 2020, Boeing successfully completed a simulation test involving its Starliner capsule. According to NASA, the simulation test was conducted at Boeing’s training facility in Houston. It consisted of a five-day test in which engineers piloted the Starliner crew capsule to the ISS and returned it safely — all of which was performed in a computer simulation.
While Starliner’s recent test was a simulation, it reinforced the commercial aerospace company’s commitment to the Commercial Crew Program. Boeing can now proceed with the next steps to make the Starliner serviceable for ISS missions on behalf of NASA. “The joint Boeing and NASA system and software teams have worked very closely to prepare for the OFT-2 mission, including building stronger relationships and improved processes that are paying dividends for our commercial crew missions,” said Chad Schaeffer who oversees certification for the Starliner’s software.
In Conclusion
As a participant of the Commercial Crew Program, Boeing is planning to conduct manned missions to and from the ISS on behalf of NASA. It will use the Starliner to send astronauts to and from the ISS. Starliner is currently still in development, but Boeing recently completed a test of its new crew capsule in a simulation.
