CNN —Two NASA astronauts have reached the final hours before a long-awaited launch attempt aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, marking the first crewed mission of the brand-new spacecraft.
This mission, dubbed the Crew Flight Test, could be the final major milestone before NASA deems Boeing’s spacecraft ready for routine operations as part of the federal agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) Butch Wilmore pose after they arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on April 25, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, ahead of the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test.
The two will then return home aboard the same Starliner capsule, which is expected to parachute to a landing at one of several designated locations across the southwestern United States.
SpaceX ultimately beat Boeing to the launchpad, carrying out its crewed flight test of the Crew Dragon capsule in May 2020.
Persons:
SpaceX’s, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Terry Renna, Bill Nelson, “, Butch, Suni, Williams, Starliner, ”, Mark Nappi, ” Nappi
Organizations:
CNN, NASA, Cape Canaveral Space Force, International Space, Russian Soyuz, Kennedy Space Center, Boeing, Atlas, SpaceX, International
Locations:
Florida, United States, Russian, Cape Canaveral , Florida, Starliner