Boeing will make historical past this week when it sends its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to the World Space Station (ISS) for the first time, and you’ll stay alongside of the venture reside on-line, thank you to NASA TV.
On Friday (Dec. 20), the uncrewed Starliner spacecraft will release on a United Release Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket and start making its means to the ISS, the place it is going to spend one week ahead of returning to Earth with a comfortable touchdown at the White Sands Missile Vary in New Mexico.
You’ll be able to watch the complete Orbital Flight Test (OFT) venture — together with the release, docking and touchdown — reside right here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV. Beneath is a agenda of all the occasions that will probably be livestreamed. If you happen to omit any of the reside occasions, we’re going to have the replays right here Space.com in a while.
Comparable: Boeing’s 1st Starliner Flight Test in Pictures
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Boeing will grasp a pre-launch information convention at NASA’s Kennedy Space Heart in Florida at 2 p.m. EST (1700 GMT), in conjunction with officers from NASA, ULA and the 45th Climate Squadron. Here is a listing of attendees:
Kathy Lueders, supervisor of NASA’s Industrial Staff ProgramJoel Montalbano, deputy supervisor of the ISS programJohn Mulholland, vice chairman and program supervisor of Boeing’s Industrial Staff ProgramJohn Elbon, leader working officer of ULAPat Forrester, astronaut place of job leader at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterWill Ulrich, release climate officer with the 45th Climate Squadron
Thursday, Dec. 19
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will sign up for long term Boeing astronauts, Josh Cassada and Suni Williams, for reside interviews on NASA TV’s media channel, from 6 a.m. to Eight a.m. EST (1100-1300 GMT). Williams and Cassada are two of the 4 astronauts scheduled to fly on Starliner’s first operational flight to the World Space Station, which is lately scheduled for 2021.
Friday, Dec. 20
The Atlas V rocket sporting the uncrewed Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to raise off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Heart in Florida at 6:36 a.m. EST (1136 GMT). NASA will start broadcasting reside protection of the release at Five a.m. EST (1000 GMT).
After the release, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will give his remarks at a information convention this is lately deliberate to start at Nine a.m. EST (1400 GMT). Alternatively, the NASA TV agenda notes that this get started time is matter to trade. Contributors on this information convention will come with:
Jim Bridenstine, NASA AdministratorJim Chilton, senior vice chairman, Boeing Space and LaunchMike Fincke, NASA AstronautNicole Mann, NASA AstronautChris Ferguson, Boeing Astronaut
Any other information convention will observe promptly at 9:30 a.m. EST (1430 GMT), with contributors of the OFT release workforce, together with:
Steve Stich, deputy supervisor of NASA’s Industrial Staff ProgramKirk Shireman, supervisor of the ISS ProgramA Boeing consultant (to be made up our minds)A United Release Alliance consultant (to be made up our minds)
Saturday, Dec. 21
The Starliner will arrive at the ISS on Saturday (Dec. 21), and NASA will circulate reside perspectives of the rendezvous and docking starting at Five a.m. EST (1000 GMT).
It’s going to autonomously dock with the ISS — with out the lend a hand of astronauts steerage the Canadarm2 robot arm, which is typically the case for incoming shipment automobiles. Docking is scheduled for 8:08 a.m. EST (1308 GMT).
NASA will proceed to circulate reside protection till the ISS astronauts open the hatch at about 10:45 a.m. EST (1545 GMT), when the workforce on board the station will be offering remarks on the ancient arrival.
Friday, Dec. 27
After spending every week docked with the area station, Starliner will start its adventure house on Dec. 27. Astronauts will shut the hatch at about 8:50 a.m. EST (1350 GMT), and reside protection of the hatch remaining will start on NASA TV at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT).
Are living protection of the undocking will start at 11:45 p.m. EST (0445 GMT on Dec. 28), and Starliner will undock on Dec. 28 at 12:44 a.m. EST (1744 GMT).
Saturday, Dec. 28
After undocking from the area station at 12:44 a.m. EST (1744 GMT), the Starliner will start its descent again to Earth, the place it is going to habits a parachute-assisted touchdown in the wasteland of New Mexico.
The adventure again will take about 5 hours, however most effective the remaining hour or so will probably be streamed reside. After the undocking, NASA TV will go back at 4:30 a.m. EST (0930 GMT) for reside protection of the deorbit burn, which is scheduled to start at 5:01 a.m. EST (1001 GMT). The touchdown is scheduled for 5:47 a.m. EST (1047 GMT).
Boeing and NASA would possibly announce further briefings to observe the touchdown, regardless that none were introduced but. We can replace this agenda of occasions after we be told extra.
Electronic mail Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@area.com or observe her @hannekescience. Observe us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Fb.
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