Boeing Starliner
Class of partially reusable crew capsules / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Boeing Starliner (or CST-100[lower-alpha 2]) is a class of partially reusable spacecraft designed to transport crew to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and other low-Earth-orbit destinations.[7][8][9] It is manufactured by Boeing, with the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) of NASA as the lead customer.[10] The spacecraft consists of a crew capsule that can be reused on up to ten missions and an expendable service module.[11]
Manufacturer | Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
---|---|
Country of origin | United States |
Operator | Boeing Defense, Space & Security |
Applications | ISS crew transport |
Specifications | |
Spacecraft type | Crewed capsule |
Payload capacity | To ISS: 4 crew and 100 kg (220 lb) cargo[1][lower-alpha 1] |
Crew capacity | Up to 7 |
Volume | 11 m3 (390 cu ft)[3] |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Design life | |
Dimensions | |
Length | 5.03 m (16.5 ft) (CM and SM)[6] |
Diameter | 4.56 m (15 ft)[6] |
Production | |
Status | Active |
Built | 3 |
Launched | 2 |
Retired | 1 |
Maiden launch | December 20, 2019, 11:36:43 UTC (uncrewed) |
The capsule has a diameter of 15 feet (4.56 m), slightly larger than either the Apollo command module or SpaceX Crew Dragon and smaller than the Artemis Orion capsule.[6] Starliner can hold a crew of up to seven and can remain docked to the ISS for up to seven months. Starliner is launched on an Atlas V N22 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
After several rounds of competitive development contracts within the Commercial Crew Program starting in 2010, NASA selected Starliner, along with the SpaceX Crew Dragon, in the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract round.[12][13][14][15] The first crewed test flight test was initially planned to occur in 2017.[15]
The first unmanned Orbital Flight Test did not occur until December 20, 2019, and was deemed a partial failure. A second Orbital Flight Test was required, which took Boeing over two years to complete on May 19, 2022. After multiple further delays, the Crew Flight Test launched on June 5, 2024.[16][17] The flight, originally scheduled for eight days, has not been approved to return to Earth until problems with thrusters on the spacecraft are solved or better understood.
Boeing has lost more than $1.5 billion in budget overruns on the Starliner project which has been marred by delays, management issues and engineering challenges. The price paid per flight has also drawn criticism from NASA's inspector general and from observers who point to significantly lower costs on the competing Crew Dragon.