Boeing's new spaceship

You're referring to Boeing's CST-100 Starliner! It's a reusable spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit, with the goal of providing a safe and reliable transportation system for NASA's crew missions.

Here are some key facts about the Boeing CST-100 Starliner:

  1. Design and Development: The Starliner is a capsule-shaped spacecraft, about 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall and 13 feet (4 meters) wide. It's designed to carry up to seven astronauts and has a mass of around 24,000 pounds (10,900 kilograms).
  2. Reusability: The Starliner is designed to be reusable, with the ability to launch, orbit, and return to Earth multiple times. This reusability feature is expected to reduce the cost of access to space.
  3. Launch Vehicle: The Starliner is launched into space using the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
  4. Orbit: The spacecraft is designed to operate in low-Earth orbit, with a maximum altitude of around 250 miles (400 kilometers).
  5. Crew Capsule: The Starliner has a crew capsule that provides a safe and comfortable environment for astronauts during their journey. The capsule is equipped with life support systems, communication equipment, and navigation systems.
  6. Spacewalk Capability: The Starliner is designed to accommodate spacewalks, also known as EVAs (extravehicular activities), allowing astronauts to perform maintenance and repair tasks outside the spacecraft.
  7. NASA's Commercial Crew Program: The Starliner is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to develop a reliable and cost-effective transportation system for astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).
  8. First Flight: The Starliner made its first uncrewed flight on December 20, 2019, but it experienced a software glitch that prevented it from docking with the ISS. The spacecraft returned to Earth safely, but the mission was considered a partial failure.
  9. Crewed Flight: The Starliner is expected to carry its first crew of astronauts to the ISS in the near future. NASA has announced plans to send astronauts to the ISS on the Starliner in 2022.
  10. Future Plans: Boeing plans to use the Starliner for a variety of missions, including trips to the ISS, lunar missions, and even potential human settlements on the Moon and Mars.

The Boeing CST-100 Starliner is an exciting development in the field of space exploration, offering a new and reliable way to transport astronauts to and from space.