Boeing is no stranger to space.
This company has been there since the beginning, playing a pivotal role in programs like Project
Mercury, Apollo, and now, Artemis.
So it was no surprise that in 2014, NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion dollar contract to build
and operate a commercial crew capsule for its astronauts.
Starliner had a successful pad abort test in early November, but this next step may
be its most important yet.
In December 2019, Boeing will embark on its very first Orbital Flight Test of Starliner,
and if it’s successful, it will mean that the U.S. will once again be able to launch
astronauts from its own soil.
Starliner has the ability to operate on its own without a pilot.
The capsule can accommodate up to seven passengers, or a mix of crew and cargo.
As for its shape, Boeing stuck to the classic triangular look of previous crew capsules
because of its great track record as an efficient design for atmospheric re-entry.
In terms of rocket power, it’s well equipped with 60 thrusters on board: now that might seem
like a lot, but each of these play a critical role in Starliner’s design.
Nearly all of them, 48 in total, are dedicated for on-orbit maneuvering. These thrusters
help to propel Starliner with precision toward its destination, the ISS.
Those 48 engines are located on the service module, while the last 12 keep the crew module
properly oriented on reentry.
In the event of an emergency, Starliner also has four large rocket motors in the service
module.
Built by Aerojet Rocketdyne, the engines will provide over 710 kilonewtons of thrust to
push the astronauts away from a possible malfunctioning rocket.
Safety is paramount since Boeing is scheduled to make at least six trips to the ISS, shuttling
up to four NASA-sponsored crewmembers and cargo.
But Starliner does have something that sets it apart from all others.
Right now, it’s the first U.S. built craft that’s certified for land-based returns.
That’s partially what makes Starliner reusable, since previous U.S. capsules that landed in
the salty, corrosive ocean water, were made unsuitable for future use.
So to make that smooth landing, Starliner will be using a combination of airbags and
parachutes, allowing the capsule to be reused up to 10 times.
The spacecraft is built to withstand long stays in space, up to 210 days, so astronauts
will return to Earth on the same capsule they arrived on.
Starliner will be lifted into space on top of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket.
Standing at 60 meters tall, the Atlas V delivers roughly 10,600 kiloNewton of thrust at liftoff,
carrying roughly 20,000 kg into low Earth orbit.
Since its first fight in 2002, the rocket has had 80 successful flights, carrying everything
from satellites to interplanetary spacecraft into orbit.
But Starliner’s upcoming crewed launch will be the first time the Atlas V carries humans
to the ISS.
So what can we expect on the day of the Orbital Test Flight?
The Atlas V rocket will liftoff from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 41 with
the uncrewed Starliner capsule onboard.
Roughly 15 minutes after takeoff, the Atlas V’s Centaur upper stage will separate from
Starliner.
From there, Starliner will power on its thrusters for an orbital insertion maneuver, and once
in orbit, it will continue on its way to the ISS.
As it approaches, the spacecraft will autonomously dock with the station’s adapter.
When it’s completed its stay on the ISS, Starliner will undock and prepare itself for
its descent.
The service module will begin its deorbit burn, decreasing Starliner’s orbital speeds
to allow for it to safely detach from the crew module.
At roughly nine kilometers from the ground, a series of parachutes will begin to deploy
to help to slow down the capsule.
And finally, at less than a kilometer, airbags will inflate to cushion the capsule’s landing
on solid ground.
If all goes well, the company’s next launch will be its most crucial yet: taking NASA
astronauts Mike Fincke and Nicole Mann and Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson for a historic
flight to the ISS.
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Let us know in the comments below.
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