After Years of Delays, Boeing’s Starliner Spacecraft Finally Completes Crew Flight Test
Boeing’s Starliner commercial spacecraft has finally completed its crew flight test after years of delays and setbacks. This comes after SpaceX has successfully delivered crews to the International Space Station eight times, while Boeing has yet to do so.
Boeing faced a number of issues during the development of the Starliner, including delayed development, turbulence problems, stuck valves, flammable materials, and faulty parachute lines. The company has flown two uncrewed missions, with the first one being a partial failure. However, the second uncrewed mission, funded by Boeing itself, was successful and met NASA’s satisfaction.
The next step for Boeing is to put a crew aboard and overcome their past issues. In other space news of the week, a model Falcon 9 rocket is now available for purchase, allowing listeners to launch their own SpaceX rocket. Additionally, a top telescope pick for beginners has been recommended.
For those interested in learning more about space exploration, the This Week In Space podcast, hosted by Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com, covers the new space age and deep dives into fascinating topics each Friday. Rod Pyle, the host of the podcast, is an author, journalist, television producer, and Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra magazine who has written extensively on space history and exploration. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments in space exploration.
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