StarLiner Launch!

[56MPG]

Boeing sent it's CST-100 capsule - the StarLiner - into space this morning. Unmanned for this test, but looking good so far for a manned mission early in the New Year. The commander of the final shuttle mission - Chris Ferguson - will pilot the first manned mission of StarLiner. I was involved in the first public display of the capsule shown below - a full scale mockup used for testing and configuration - at an event I attended in Abu Dhabi in 2014. Will fit four astronauts and some cargo, but it's tight. Believe me, getting it from the US to Abu Dhabi was almost as difficult as getting it to space! In 2016 I was again involved in the display of the first functioning control system mockup. (Basically an ipad and a joystick.) I was actually able to dock it to the ISS on the first try!  A few years later and it's reality. Go StarLiner!



Marty

[JEBIV]

Wow, awesome news, and it's badass looking too

[JEBIV]

My friend caught these pics this morning here at work at the ATL airport, Starliner shrieking across the sky very cool

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[rc]

Wow, that must have been one cool sight to see!


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[jhagestad]

That is awesome! God bless the USA!

[56MPG]

Bit of a setback as the capsule did not reach the right orbit. Sigh...They will bring it back in a couple days to check it out. It's why we test these things before risking human lives. 

[jhagestad]

That's a bummer - I was hoping for some good news!


"Excuse me, stewardess, is there a movie on this flight?"

[Walchit]

Will this get us past the Van Allen belt? I'm trying to see some moon footage with cameras from this millennia.

[Darko]

Forgive me if I don't really trust Boeing. 737Max bs comes to mind.

[Vwbuggin64]

Bit of a setback as the capsule did not reach the right orbit. Sigh...They will bring it back in a couple days to check it out. It's why we test these things before risking human lives.

Yeah I saw that. I was on shift when the launch happened. My part in the grand scheme is to make sure you didnt get shwacked by any debris and/or other sats in space. My main focus day to day is the ISS and that includes all vehicles to and fro. I was rooting for Starliner because the screening we do to clear you is fun. I'm glad it wasn't a total loss though. I know at least you'll get to test out that fancy New Mexico landing site


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[Darko]

Bit of a setback as the capsule did not reach the right orbit. Sigh...They will bring it back in a couple days to check it out. It's why we test these things before risking human lives.

I thought the technology was tested in the '60's, '70's when we managed to land man on the moon.

[Hell Fire Grill]

Is this the new Space Force Cruiser they're going to use to pull over Elon Musk with, after they smell marijuana coming from his car...