Boeing Starliner
Class of partially reusable crew capsules / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Boeing Starliner (or CST-100[lower-alpha 2]) is a class of partially reusable spacecraft designed to transport crew to 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 and cargo transport |
Specifications | |
Spacecraft type | Crewed capsule |
Launch mass | 13,000 kg (29,000 lb) |
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 | In development and testing |
Built | 3 |
Launched | 2 |
Retired | 1 |
Maiden launch | December 20, 2019, 11:36:43 UTC (uncrewed) |
Last launch | June 5th, 2024, 14:52:14 UTC |
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 people and can remain docked to the ISS for up to seven months. Starliner is launched on Atlas V 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]
However, 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 Crewed Flight Test launched successfully on June 5, 2024.[16][17]
Because of the multiple delays, Boeing has lost more than $1.5 billion on the project. It has also faced scrutiny from NASA's inspector general, which estimated the per-seat cost to be $90 million, over 60% higher than the $55 million for the Crew Dragon.[18]