After years of delays, Boeing is finally ready to launch NASA’s first Starliner astronaut mission, with a test flight to the International Space Station on May 6. If you want to watch the launch online.
But don’t worry, space fans. We’ve got you covered. Boeing’s first Starliner with astronauts on board is currently scheduled to launch into orbit at 10:34 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (May 7, 02:34 GMT) on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The mission will send NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams on a week-long test flight to the space station, a shakedown cruise that Boeing calls Crew Flight Test (CFT).
If all goes well, Boeing’s Starliner will take astronauts to the space station, dock on Wednesday (May 8), and return to Earth up to eight days later by landing in a desert in the southwestern United States. (It was previously an unmanned test flight.) It landed at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico). NASA selected Boeing’s Starliner as one of two astronaut taxis for flights to the space station. The other is SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. However, this CFT test flight has been delayed for years and follows a failed test flight and two successful unmanned Starliner flights in December 2019.
“This will give us that additional capabilities because we always look for a backup,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told reporters at a press conference on Friday, May 3. On Friday, Boeing and NASA agreed that Starliner was ready to carry its first astronauts and gave the green light for launch. Here’s when and how to watch the May 6th flight.
When will the Boeing CFT Starliner go on launch?
Boeing’s CFT Starliner is currently arriving at Cape Canaveral, Florida on Monday, May 6 at 22:34 EDT (May 7, 2:34 GMT) It will be launched to the ISS from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Space Force Base. There is a 95 percent chance of good weather at launch, said Brian Cizek, a weather officer with the Space Force Base’s 45th Weather Squadron.
Boeing has three alternative options to launch the CFT mission on May 7, 10, and 11. Čižek told a press conference on Friday that the good weather forecast is expected to last until at least May 7, with a 95% chance of clear skies.
Boeing plans to host its own Starliner launch livestream on its Starliner launch website, likely using NASA’s broadcast. ULA will also host its own Starliner launch webcast on its own Atlas V mission website.
But NASA isn’t going to end the launch webcast there. The space agency will hold a press conference on Tuesday, May 7th at 12:00 pm ET (4:00 pm Japan time) to discuss the Starliner launch results. The press conference will be moderated by NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, a former astronaut and space shuttle commander, and will be streamed live on NASA TV and NASA’s YouTube channel. A livestream event is also scheduled for docking and crew arrival on Wednesday (May 8).
What happens if Boeing’s Starliner CFT astronauts flight to take off on his May 6th?
If Boeing’s Starliner CFT mission can’t launch on May 6, the company and its launch partner United Launch Alliance do have some options.
Currently, Boeing, ULA, and NASA have four opportunities to launch CFT missions, one each on May 6th, 7th, 10th, and 11th. If Starliner fails to take off on the night of May 6, Boeing and its partners could attempt a second takeoff as early as Tuesday, May 7 at 10:11 p.m. Depending on the nature of the problem, NASA’s Steve Stich told
Eastern Daylight Time (0211GMT). If a May 7 launch is not possible, Boeing could launch on Friday, May 10 or Saturday, May 11. In May, Starliner attempts to launch to the ISS. The start date on May 10th is scheduled for 9pm. The launch will take place on May 11th at 8:38 pm (1:00 am on May 11th Japan time). ET (12:38 p.m. Japan time), NASA officials said.
Can you watch the Boeing Starliner astronaut launch?
Yes, you can watch the Boeing CFT Starliner launch and subsequent mission events live in a series of webcasts. On the day of launch, NASA TV will provide a live stream of his May 6 launch starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT (2230 GMT) on YouTube, NASA+, and its social media channels. The webcast will run continuously throughout launch and end shortly after Starliner enters Earth orbit shortly after liftoff.