Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket rolled out of the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41 earlier this week. Starliner now stands poised at the launch pad awaiting its maiden flight on Boeing's uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Liftoff is scheduled for 6:36 a.m. EST Friday, Dec. 20.
The flight test will provide valuable data on the end-to-end performance of the Atlas V rocket, Starliner spacecraft, and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, and landing operations. The data will be used as part of NASA's process of certifying Boeing's crew transportation system for carrying astronauts to and from the space station.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron continue to predict an 80% chance of favorable weather for launch on Friday morning. Primary concerns for launch day are the Cumulus Cloud Rule and User Ground Winds violations during the instantaneous launch window.
Launch Readiness Review Complete
Teams from NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance are "go" for a launch following the launch readiness review ahead of the Orbital Flight Test mission to the International Space Station for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Launch is scheduled for 6:36 a.m. EST Friday, Dec. 20, from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing continue to predict an 80% chance of favorable weather with the primary concerns for launch day are the Cumulus Cloud Rule and User Ground Winds violations during the instantaneous launch window.
