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(AGENPARL) – gio 30 maggio 2024 May 30, 2024
MEDIA ADVISORY: M24-073
NASA Updates Coverage for Boeing’s Starliner Launch, Docking
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crew ship approaches the International Space Station on the company’s Orbital Flight Test-2 mission before automatically docking to the Harmony module’s forward port.
NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, which will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the International Space Station.
Launch of the ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket and Boeing Starliner spacecraft is targeted for 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 1, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Starliner will dock to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at approximately 1:50 p.m., Sunday, June 2.
Wilmore and Williams will remain at the space station for about a week to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems before NASA works to complete final certification of the transportation system for rotational missions to the orbiting laboratory as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
NASA, Boeing, and ULA scrubbed the previous launch opportunity on May 6 due to a suspect oxygen relief valve on the Atlas V rocket’s Centaur second stage. Since, teams have removed and replaced the valve, and completed an assessment of Starliner’s performance and redundancy after discovering a small helium leak in the spacecraft’s service module.
As part of the helium leak investigation, NASA and Boeing conducted a follow-on propulsion system assessment to understand potential helium system impacts to some Starliner return scenarios. NASA also completed a Delta-Agency Flight Test Readiness Review on May 29 to evaluate all work performed and flight rationale before proceeding toward launch.
NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Friday, May 31
1 p.m. – Prelaunch briefing with the following participants:
* NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free
* Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
* Dana Weigel, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
* NASA astronaut Mike Fincke
* Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
* Gary Wentz, vice president, Government and Commercial Programs, ULA
* Mark Burger, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Saturday, June 1
12:25 p.m. – Launch
Launch coverage on NASA+ will end shortly after Starliner orbital insertion. NASA Television will provide continuous coverage leading up to docking and through hatch opening and welcome remarks.
2 p.m. – Postlaunch news conference with the following participants:
* NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
* Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate
* Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
* Dana Weigel, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
* Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
* Tory Bruno, president and CEO, ULA
NASA+ will resume coverage and NASA Television’s public channel will break from in-orbit coverage to carry the postlaunch news conference. Mission operational coverage will continue on NASA Television’s media channel and the agency’s website. Once the postlaunch news conference is complete, NASA+ coverage will end, and mission coverage will continue on both NASA channels.
Sunday, June 2
1:50 p.m. – Targeted docking to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module
3:35 p.m. – Hatch opening
3:55 p.m. – Welcome remarks
5 p.m. – Post-docking news conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center with the following participants:
* NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free
* Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
* Dana Weigel, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
* Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
All times are estimates and could be adjusted based on operations after launch. Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date operations information.
Audio Only Coverage
Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240 or -7135. On launch day, “mission audio,” countdown activities without NASA Television launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135.
Launch audio also will be available on Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System’s VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and KSC Amateur Radio Club’s UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, FM mode, heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.
Live Video Coverage Prior to Launch
NASA Website Launch Coverage
Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the agency’s website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 8:15 a.m., June 1, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff.
For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on the commercial crew or the Crew Flight Test blog.
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