Boeing's Starliner spacecraft rolls to the launchpad to meet ULA's Atlas V rocket

Boeing is on the cusp of launching astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time using its Starliner spacecraft. The Crew Flight Test, launching no earlier than May 6, 2024, from Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41 will dock with the orbiting outpost for a little more than a week before landing in the Southwest of the United States.
Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Suni Williams were on hand at Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF) as their spacecraft rolled out and made its way to be mated with United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The CFT mission is expected to be the final certification flight ahead of Boeing's first, full crew rotation mission to the ISS, Starliner-1, which is set to launch in spring 2025.
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[@stuckinks3569]

I’m so thankful to SFN for keeping us updated on all things space. My small human (6yro) and I watch every post. Thank You SFN Team ❤

[@wisanu99]

I hope nobody dies. It’s a Boeing after all.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Good luck and Godspeed, astronauts! I really mean that. You're gonna need it.

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

The people they found to ride this dumpster must be really brave, or really stupid.

[@cwulfe1]

Thanks for this report as I hadn't seen this talked about elsewhere.

[@LordDustinDeWynd]

How overdue is it now? How much over budget?

[@ThatOpalGuy]

good luck, astronauts. here is to a complete success!

[@PNWroamer]

They better check the door bolts again. Lord be with them.

[@user-rg1tr2uu8h]

Came in to just make this comment myself!

[@QuiLe-qw5jb]

🤣🤣🤣

[@PNWroamer]

@user-rg1tr2uu8h I'm sure the quality control is better. I just hope these folks take their jobs with much more concern. Idk I think mistakes happen but this is a different ball game.

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

@@PNWroamer oh you're SURE. Good. Sign up to take the flight. I'll drive you to the launch pad

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

@@PNWroamer remember, Boeing's biggest concern is diversity now. Not safety.

[@cbspock1701]

They played your channel yesterday for the launch of space x here at KSC it was coolc

[@davidn73]

Awesome. Always good to have another option for getting up to orbit. I understand the concern and comments about Boeing. When you consider everything that Boeing has done over decades and decades.... Pretty safe. SpaceX also has amazing accomplishments.

[@thomasboese3793]

@davidn 73 SpaceX 'is' our team also. Not as much money or time, but got the job done first try.

[@grahammonk8013]

We? You mean USA? USA already has their own orbital craft, Dragon and Falcon 9. And Falcon 9 Isn't powered by a Russian engine.

[@Cheesehead1966]

Make sure you double check the hatch.

[@ethanWELAN]

"This is a big day for our nation, a big day for NASA...." HAHAHA... A big day for Americans to finally see their tax dollars fly... A big day for NASA that's years begind SpaceX in carrying humans to space.

[@c7042]

I'm hoping for the best and complete success but I'm still nervous for those guys. I would fly their T7A though if offered.

[@cbgardenmaryland]

as a tax payer, i really hope this goes flawlessly, especially since its a manned flight

[@goldenshatter]

and late as fuck

[@TankEnMate]

this is a fixed price contract, so all the risk is on Boeing (not the tax payer)

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

The people that willingly get in any kind of vehicle made by Boeing these days are the ones taking all the risk, actually. Gamble, more like. Fk Boeing

[@cbgardenmaryland]

@@TankEnMate after spending $4bil though

[@TankEnMate]

@@cbgardenmaryland I assume you're talking about the agreed contract price of $4.2 billion. Yes, that hasn't changed, but it also hasn't been fully paid out as Boeing haven't completed the terms of the contract. The public contract documents have the milestones and the payments for each of those milestones redacted, so it's hard to say how many milestone payments NASA have made, and how much they are worth.

[@richlo8887]

Those Astronauts better take a case of duct tape and an extensive tool kit with them.....👀

[@peterford5408]

2:20 Do other space capsule COGs have to be that precise? Roughly how far would the actual COG have to be from the expected COG to cause a likely mission failure?

[@minicowman]

Anyone giving odds on how many feet it makes it off the launch pad before the hatch falls off?

[@Smoosheroo]

Did the wheels fall off?

[@schnauzer777]

Astronauts going up in May? How many times was it tested? 🙏

[@SciFlyGal]

There have been two test flights so far, the first one was terrible, the second had some valve issues but worked well enough.

[@Asterra2]

No tests went well enough to justify putting human lives on the craft. Not only did the only "success" have multiple failures (not just the valves), but they've been forced to redesign the craft multiple times since said test, due to new flaws that were subsequently discovered. Aand let's not pretend that having more than one valve go bad is anything less than evidence that _all_ of them could well have gone bad for the same exact reason. That item _all by itself_ should have warranted a new test.

[@darrelneese5676]

Well enough ain’t good enough.

[@grahammonk8013]

This is the first crewed flight.

[@seanhoward5562]

Make sure the doors are good.

[@saintuk70]

@Spaceflight Now - nicely narrated

[@chiphappened]

Go Boeing !! 🇺🇸

[@ivanbasson982]

Can BUTCH please just make sure the HATCH is bolted down......

[@saintuk70]

Let's hope Boeing don't have any hatch "issues"

[@mattwaters6987]

Hmm...from what I've heard about all the safety cutbacks with Boeing, guess we'll see what happens! 😵‍💫

[@hermanvesper7608]

Does. It fall apart too like the Boeing planes?

[@bertkoerts3991]

We take our time… the biggest driver for project cost is throughput time…

[@blaskoxx4954]

Forgot to add 'Whistleblower Murdering' before Boeing. Just wanted to correct you.

[@eduardskalnik4772]

Боинг перебросил свои лучшие силы на космос. Starliner полетит. Самолёты доверили строить второй команде.

[@georgew.5639]

If it’s not Space X I’m not going.

[@bradbettin1023]

I wouldn’t go in anything made by Boeing right now.

[@hwyy9046]

Here we go another submersible 🤣🤣

[@user-ik1sc3fj9n]

Hello everyone

[@randmayfield5695]

Boeing? What could go wrong there? Spaceships don't have plugged doors so they should be okay.... maybe.

[@ImNotPotus]

Danger, Will Robinson Smith. Danger!

[@Dain_Bramage702]

Any items fall off again like last roll out?

[@juliefizpatrick513]

Interesting but skeptical…

[@regolith1350]

I want Boeing to succeed, not because I have any love for Boeing because I don't. I want NASA to get what it paid for so they can stop stressing about it. I want Boeing to get its act together and stop making the US space industry look ridiculous.

[@thomasquinn4036]

0ver 6 years behind schedule and way over budget. Free money for Boeing!

[@thomasboese3793]

No, Boeing is on a FIXED-FEE contract this time. Remember, Boeing started well before and with more money than SpaceX. Heck, the booster that took the first crew Dragon to the ISS has completed 20 launches/landings.

[@jacquiford4465]

Hopefully, the crew responsible for building this is better than the crew building the 777. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

[@JoeShmoism]

Haven't you been following the news on starliner? I can't believe NASA IS actually risking astronauts lives in this piece of junk.

[@Columbiastargazer]

Thank You Will Robinson-Smith

[@abnormal9130]

Boeing? I hope they packed spare parts.

[@gartwilliams3347]

💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸

[@DanielRichards644]

Be sure to quadruple check the doors.

[@josephnaja]

Hope the doors don't blow off

[@Green_House]

Boeing ain't going !

[@andrew40085]

Do they have a death wish?

[@rauljimenez8132]

Let's hope this part of Boeing is not DEI.

[@sprtplt]

And they've nearly replicated 1960's space capsules (only a much bigger POS).

[@lextacy2008]

Lets hope this launches on a day that 98% of the country is able to see it.

[@djmkultra]

✝️

[@ivanbasson982]

Haven't the 'merricans already gone to the moon.....

[@theberrybest]

Boeing? Yea, I see a possible disaster in the making. 🤣🤣🤣

[@notapplicable2636]

You meant Böing, correct? Hahaha Sadly agreed...

[@GrammyPammy961]

Boeing? Uhmmm Not right 1:30 choice IMO. Or, have they been concentrating 💰💵💵💰 And neglect their airline crafts????

[@joemomma1968]

boeing ? yeah,,,,mabey not

[@toi_techno]

Boeing 😬

[@l.ls.8890]

I would not get on top of a Boeing rocket ever at this stage.

[@glenngann166]

It's not a Boeing rocket. Do some research.

[@Sparkeee1978]

meh

[@allenrittman5853]

They're not really going to put astronauts in this thing are they! Boeing can't even build a jet flying to 35,000 feet going 550 mph, that will stay in the air safely. This thing is going a few hundred miles in space at 17,500 mph! Good luck! Hope it doesn't run into the space station!

[@thomasboese3793]

Looks like the turtle who started the race with more money & time might just get to see outer space after all. Wires? Ok. Chutes? Ok. Software? Ok. Valves? Ok. Crew? Second set.

[@cabaretehouses9994]

why starliner exist when the Dragon is here already?

[@LG-ct8tw]

This is NASA's interpretation of redundancy. Starliner and Dragon where supposed to be ready at the same time. They picked Boeing over Sierra Nevada 'cause.. ya know... some influence...😉

[@porterbays]

first

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

DEI

[@SciFlyGal]

This talking point isn’t working, find a new one.

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

@@SciFlyGal nothing your sorry liberal ass believes in works anymore. Find a new life

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

@@SciFlyGal 🤡

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

@@SciFlyGal DEI DEI DEI DEI DEI DEI DEI DEI DEI TRUMP 24

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

@@SciFlyGal FJB

[@Ingens_Scherz]

And another thing, do you think SpaceX would ever hire this dude Mark Sorenson? I'm not so sure. He seems to think this thing is, or should be, "exciting", when SpaceX always strives to make their achievements seem as routine as possible, and even boring. "Exciting" = unknown unknowns, and therefore risky. "Routine" and "boring" = known knowns and predicted unknowns inferred from data, and therefore safe. Lives are on the line here. And this "Starliner" thing (what star is it visiting again?) is already known to be an inferior design even before you compare it to the so-far flawless, and yet still improving, Crew Dragon. Congress has a serious Boeing infection. SpaceX should have been the antibiotic. But, bizarrely, like some kind of exotic VD, the Boeing infection won't go away.

[@thomasboese3793]

Boeing still believes it's a 'make work' project with no major outcome needed. The old ways of keeping the aero-industrial complex working for future military needs are more important than exploring space in a new way. The 'fixed-price' contract has them deep in the red at this point.

[@chrisdaniel1339]

With all the issues this capsule has had and all the issues Boeing has had with piss poor quality and unscheduled, new, emergency exit door being created in flight I would not want to be onboard that tin can. Fuck no, I won't go. I bet those astronauts are having second thoughts and would rather be on a SpaceX rocket and capsule.

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

Boeing is making spacecraft now? God help us all.

[@NeedsLessWedge]

Amazingly enough, they constructed the first stage of the Saturn V that Carried Apollo missions to the moon. As well as it's lunar orbiters. My, how the times of high levels of reliability, and craftsmanship have changed.

[@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs]

@@NeedsLessWedge that was well before their DEI days, of course

[@NeedsLessWedge]

@@HeWhoIsWhoHeIs yeah , almost every publicly traded American corporation has fell victim of those forced regulations, especially any that are govt partners. Those guys back then were in it for the money, but it was also driven to hire the best to be the best. And they had better leaders and better ethics then as well

[@Perpetualnerd63]

Just scrap the damned thing and save the astronauts... No faith in Boeing anymore.

[@NeedsLessWedge]

Death on wheels

[@richlo8887]

Poor NASA. Those look like some bottom of the barrel astronauts! 😎

[@IbnBahtuta]

When you grow up you'll be able to become one yourself if you pass the test, which is statistically highly improbable. rofl@u

[@richlo8887]

@@IbnBahtuta When you grow up, you will know that unlike SpaceX, Boeing is a joke!

[@glenngann166]

Haha

[@ivanbasson982]

Thats exactly why they use death defying TEST PILOTS.

[@glenngann166]

That's a rude and ignorant comment. Wise up.

[@pauljohansen8043]

Starliner should be defunded immediately. But that would require a intelligent, non- corrupt congress.

[@toddemmett9442]

Why? Why? Why? Save the fuel. Scrap the project and stick with Soace X. This reminds me of Hugh's Spruce Goose trying to prove expensive mistake.😢 Sorry to be negative

[@jackmarean2997]

Boeing and their cheap technology better not kill our astronauts

[@leer663]

So much more expensive than Crew Dragon, Dream chaser on the way the old Starliner should be cancelled. It has no purpose aside from burning through tax payers cash.

[@kokomo9764]

You could not pay me enough to ride on that thing. I don't trust Boeing with anything.

[@garyc1384]

Bowt the only thing in this universe that can make Elon Musk look good (even if if its a lie).

[@RechargeableLithium]

Nope - I wouldn't touch that capsule with somebody else's 10' pole.

[@Mutlap]

Is DEI principals in charge of hiring for this program

[@budsfan1970]

Billions over budget ,and years behind schedule to get back to 1960's Apollo technology.

[@glencrandall7051]

I agree , billions over budget and years behind schedule. But this isn't Apollo technology. Apollo was horse and buggy. This is way more advanced. Just pray that they got it right.🙂🙂

[@budsfan1970]

@@glencrandall7051 I understand that the avionics technology is light years ahead of Apollo. Heck, my smartphone is! However, it's still basically a similar sized capsule stuck on top of an expendable rocket. Not much advancement for over half a century of spaceflight since Apollo ended.

[@snorman1911]

Yeah... well, good luck to them.

[@carloskay]

Boeing no thank you

[@stevesmith756]

Why are there 6 extra bolts in the assembly area 😂

[@Asterra2]

Good luck to the astronauts risking their neck on this vehicle. By far the biggest risk NASA will have taken since the first shuttle disaster. The only "success" this craft has had was in fact marred by multiple failures, and it's seen even more failures since, most of which added to the project's delay. It's far too long of a delay overall to qualify that the current iteration of the craft has been tested well enough to justify putting human lives on it. Without controversy, they're pushing things because the delays have gotten out of hand, _not_ because everything's good to go.

[@melroberts-hareld1447]

Sorry I missed y’all, today - watching the “rerun”, back in Chicagoland 🫤