Boeing Starliner mission progressing toward launch

(United Launch Alliance contributed)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Everything continues to progress toward Saturday’s scheduled United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch carrying the first crewed Boeing Starliner spacecraft for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA and Boeing teams polled “go” to proceed Wednesday with plans to launch the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station at 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday.

During a Delta-Agency Flight Test Readiness Review at the Kennedy Space Center, leaders from NASA, Boeing, and ULA verified launch readiness, including all systems, facilities, and teams supporting the test flight.

A backup launch opportunity is available Sunday, with additional launch windows next Wednesday and Thursday, NASA said.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Kennedy on Tuesday, and will remain in quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building until Saturday’s launch. The crew had quarantined in Houston while mission teams worked to resolve issues with the rocket and spacecraft since scrubbing an initial launch attempt on May 6.

The mission is planned to lift off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  The forecast shows a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.  

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