Media Teleconference to Share Starliner Astronaut Flight Update
NASA and Boeing are all set to host a highly anticipated media teleconference on Monday, Aug. 7, at 2 p.m. EDT, providing an eagerly awaited update on the first astronaut flight of the company’s CST-100 Starliner to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
Readiness for Crew Flight Test
The teleconference will feature discussions on the readiness of the spacecraft and the team in preparation for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. This flight test marks the final step before regular crewed missions to the ISS using the next-generation CST-100 Starliner system.
Key Participants in the Briefing
The participants in the media teleconference include:
- Steve Stich, manager, of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
- Joel Montalbano, manager, of NASA’s International Space Station Program
- Mark Nappi, vice president, and program manager, CST-100 Starliner, Boeing
Starliner’s Launch and Test Flight Details
The Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It will return about a week later in White Sands, New Mexico.
Paving the Way for Crewed Missions
During the demonstration flight, the Starliner will carry two NASA astronaut test pilots, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams, to validate the end-to-end capabilities of the spacecraft.
Once astronauts successfully complete the test flight, NASA will proceed with certifying the Starliner spacecraft and its systems for regular crew rotation flights to and from the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone in human spaceflight.
The Mission
On the demonstration flight, the Starliner spacecraft will carry two distinguished NASA astronaut test pilots, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams, showcasing the end-to-end capabilities of the remarkable spacecraft.
Following a successful test flight with astronauts, NASA will begin the final process of certifying the Starliner spacecraft and systems for regular crew rotation flights to and from the space station.
