Science and Technology

Preparing for Liftoff: NASA's Historic Boeing Crew Flight Test

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2024—The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced its plans to offer the public a glimpse into the significant Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT), a mission destined for the International Space Station (ISS). Media events are scheduled, which include comprehensive tours and news conferences starting Thursday, March 21, culminating on Friday, March 22, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

In a display of the meticulous preparations for human spaceflight, an arresting image has been released showing astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams absorbed in pre-flight activities with a T-38 jet at Ellington Field. Captured on the 16th of August, 2022, this snapshot from Hangar 276/Flight Line is a testament to the intense and thorough training regimen at NASA, impressively documented by NASA photographer Robert Markowitz.

On Friday, March 22, at 10 a.m. EDT, NASA and Boeing officials will convey the mission's preparedness, objectives, and key priorities. Subsequently, at 11:30 a.m., mission managers will outline the meticulous flight plan and its intricacies. For a more personal take on the mission, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be engaging with inquiries at 2 p.m. and are slated for one-on-one interviews.

These pivotal briefings will be transmitted live across multiple NASA platforms, including NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, as well as the agency’s own website. Viewers will have the technology at their fingertips to stream the conferences via a myriad of platforms, including options to engage through social media channels.

On the preceding afternoon of March 21, interested media representatives will be presented with opportunities to delve deeper into the specifics of the flight test. Their exploration will take them to the Boeing Starliner mockup, the Starliner simulator for hands-on experience, and will provide a chance to converse with the flight control teams who stand ready to oversee this first human-crewed flight of the spacecraft.

The eagerly anticipated launch is currently targeted for early May, a date contingent upon the demanding schedule of the International Space Station. The mission will see astronauts Wilmore and Williams journeying to the orbiting scientific platform for a mission lasting up to two weeks. The voyage to space will be aboard a United Launch Alliance rocket, with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft as their vessel, lifting off from the Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This media event provides a final chance for interactions with the crew prior to their repositioning to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the actual launch.

International journalists seeking to partake in these proceedings or aspiring to secure a remote interview with the astronauts must expedite their credential requests by 5 p.m. Monday, March 11, by reaching out to the Johnson newsroom. U.S. journalists have a different deadline—by 6 p.m. Monday, March 18. Detailed instructions on NASA's media accreditation policy are available online.

Reiterating the importance of press engagement, all media personnel desiring to join the news conference over the phone are instructed to notify the Johnson newsroom no later than 9:45 a.m. March 22. Moreover, those eager to pitch questions via social media can harness the power of the hashtag #AskNASA to participate in the discourse.

The itinerary for Thursday, March 21, reveals a packed schedule. Media personnel are expected to arrive at the Johnson Space Center by 11:30 CDT (12:30 p.m. EDT), inaugurating a series of briefings from prestigious participants.

On Friday, March 22, the Program Overview News Conference will commence at 10 a.m, disseminated through the NASA + streaming platform. Esteemed speakers at this conference will include NASA Administrator Bill Nelson; Steve Stich, manager of the Commercial Crew Program at NASA; Dana Weigel, deputy manager of the International Space Station Program at NASA; and Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for Boeing Starliner Program.

At 11:30 a.m., the Mission Overview News Conference will be held, also available for public viewing. It will feature flight directors such as Mike Lammers for Starliner ascent; Vincent LaCourt from the International Space Station Program; and Ed Van Cise, responsible for the Starliner rendezvous operations.

The day's programming will close with the Crew News Conference at 2 p.m., permitting an interactive audience with the mission commander Butch Wilmore and mission pilot Suni Williams.

Captain Butch Wilmore, who heralds from the U.S. Navy, boasts an illustrious career spanning two spaceflights, equating to a total of 178 days in the cosmos. Enlisted as an astronaut in 2000, Wilmore contributed significantly as a flight engineer during Expedition 41 and then as commander in Expedition 42. His service record is also marked by piloting the space shuttle Atlantis for STS-129. Hailing from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Wilmore's academic accolades include degrees from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Similarly, Suni Williams is a distinguished retired Navy captain and an alumna of two space station missions, commanding Expedition 33. Since being picked as an astronaut by NASA in 1998, she has accrued 322 days in space, starting with the space shuttle Discovery on STS-116 and then aboard a Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft. Williams's notable extravehicular activity, encompassing seven spacewalks amounting to nearly 51 hours, is commendable. She regards Needham, Massachusetts, as her hometown, and is a graduate of both the U.S. Naval Academy and Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.

NASA, ever in pursuit of innovation for humanity, fosters the Commercial Crew Program as a cornerstone of its efforts to advance space exploration and to prepare for this inaugural crewed Starliner test flight. Embark on a journey to discover more about this pioneering program, which represents a triumph of human ingenuity and cooperative exploration.

Explore further:

• NASA's Commercial Crew Program

Source: NASA

In summary, as NASA and Boeing stand poised on the threshold of launching the landmark Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station, both the agencies, the astronauts, and their support teams are entering a crucial phase of preparations that will be shared with the world in an effort to keep the channels of communication open and transparent about human endeavors in space. This journey, scheduled for early May, is not just a mission to the stars but a symbol of human achievement and interstellar ambition.

With the meticulous groundwork laid out by ground crews and flight directors over the past months, the astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are ready to ascend into history. The space community and public await with bated breath as NASA moves forward, reaching new heights and continuing to inspire generations with the daring spirit of space exploration.

Forward to the Launchpad: NASA and Humanity's Next Giant Leap

This mission is a key milestone in NASA's commercial crew program, with the broader goal of fostering innovation and expanding human presence beyond Earth. As the Starliner embarks on its journey, it carries not only astronauts but also the aspirations of countless individuals who have dreamt of voyaging among the stars. This mission further solidifies NASA's commitment to ensuring a constant human presence in space, paving the way for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

As the countdown to the launch continues, this media event stands as an open invitation to witness the bold steps of NASA and its commercial partners as they initiate a new chapter in space exploration—an era defined by collaboration, technological breakthroughs, and the unyielding quest for knowledge.

Embracing the Technology: Streaming into the Future

Through the inclusive live streaming of these pivotal briefings and news conferences, NASA utilizes the power of technology not solely for exploration but for education and engagement. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for enthusiasts, educators, and students around the globe to partake in the excitement and to feed their curiosity about space and the wonders it holds.

Astronauts Wilmore and Williams not only represent the pinnacle of physical and intellectual training but also embody the spirit of explorers venturing into the unknown for the sake of progress and discovery. They are set to become the torchbearers of a new era in human spaceflight, proving once again that the sky is not the limit.

Towards New Horizons: The Boeing Starliner's Voyage

The Starliner itself is emblematic of human tenacity and the enduring drive to explore. As it positions itself on the launchpad, it is a physical representation of the partnership between NASA and the private sector to push the frontiers of what is possible, and to continue the human story in space.

In anticipation of this significant event, the importance of the media's role in sharing the essentials of space exploration becomes all the more evident. Through their participation in the preview events and coverage of the mission, journalists are the narrators of this historical chapter, providing a window for the public into the immense effort and collaboration that constitute a trip into orbit.

The Boeing Crew Flight Test will not only serve as a benchmark in the annals of space exploration, but also as an inspiration for future generations who will look up at the stars and aspire to contribute to the collective mission of understanding and exploring our universe.