Starliner Takes A Big Step: Fueling Begins For First Astronaut Mission

Boeing's Starliner capsule is inching closer to its first crewed mission as technicians began fueling the spacecraft. This marks a significant milestone for the program, paving the way for a historic launch in early May.

The capsule, called Crew Flight Test (CFT), will carry NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) for a planned 10-day stay. Liftoff is scheduled for early May aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Fueling the Starliner is a meticulous process expected to take about two weeks. A team of specially trained technicians, along with fluids, propellant, and electrical test engineers, are meticulously loading the propellant at Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

This first astronaut mission comes after a successful uncrewed test flight in 2022. Starliner's journey to the launchpad has been met with challenges and delays, but Boeing officials are confident that this fueling process signifies a major step forward for the program.

The success of this crewed mission is crucial for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which relies on both Boeing and SpaceX to ferry astronauts to and from the space station. With Starliner nearing the launchpad, the future of American spaceflight appears to be gaining momentum.