An Atlas 5 rocket carrying astronauts is set to launch Boeing's long-awaited Starliner crew ferry ship on its first piloted test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). This comes after years of delays and exceeding its budget by over a billion dollars. The Starliner is Boeing's response to SpaceX's successful Crew Dragon spacecraft, which has completed 13 flights to the space station.

NASA funded the development of both spacecraft to ensure a reliable means of transporting astronauts to the ISS. Although Boeing faced delays in preparing their ship for crew flights, the company has confirmed that all systems are ready for launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:34 p.m. EDT.

The mission commander for this significant milestone is Barry "Butch" Wilmore, alongside Sunita Williams, both seasoned NASA astronauts with extensive experience in space. The Starliner, like SpaceX's Crew Dragon, is equipped with a robust abort system that can swiftly detach the capsule from its booster in the event of a critical malfunction at any stage.

If the launch goes as planned, the Starliner will be released into a preliminary orbit 15 minutes after liftoff. The astronauts will then perform thruster firings to fine-tune the spacecraft's orbit before conducting tests of the computer-assisted manual control system. The Starliner is designed to approach the ISS from behind and below before docking at the Harmony module's forward port.

During the final approach, Wilmore and Williams will test the capsule's manual controls, ensuring that future crews have the ability to adjust trajectory or orientation if necessary. Additionally, the Starliner includes a fully manual backup system, which allows the crew to command the ship's thrusters directly using a joystick-like hand controller.

Following the completion of their mission, Wilmore and Williams will depart from the space station around May 15th and test the fully manual backup system during the return journey to Earth. Successful completion of the Starliner test flight would pave the way for routine crew rotation flights, with one Crew Dragon and one Starliner anticipated to launch each year to support long-duration crew missions at the ISS.

Jim Free, NASA's associate administrator for space operations, emphasized the critical nature of the Starliner Crew Flight test (CFT) and the importance of maintaining vigilance for any unforeseen challenges along the way. Free expressed confidence in the Starliner's capabilities while highlighting the need to successfully complete the mission before certifying its readiness for future crewed missions.

Bearing in mind the setbacks faced by both Boeing and SpaceX in the development process, it is important to recognize the meticulous attention to detail and rigorous testing required to ensure the safety of astronauts. The timeline for initial piloted flights was originally set for 2017, however, funding issues and technical difficulties caused significant delays.

SpaceX successfully launched their first crewed mission in May 2020, while Boeing's Starliner encountered software errors and propulsion system valve problems during its initial test flights. Engineers had to address these issues, leading to additional costs and a postponement of the first crewed flight from 2023 to 2024.

Boeing invested upwards of $1 billion into an extra test flight and corrective measures to address identified problems such as parachute harness connectors and concerns about wiring that could potentially cause a short circuit. These extensive efforts illustrate the company's commitment to ensuring a safe and reliable spacecraft for future crewed missions.

The successful launch of Boeing's Starliner crewed test flight will mark an important achievement in NASA's Commercial Crew Program, providing critical redundancy for ISS access. It represents another step forward in expanding human space transportation capabilities, ultimately enabling the United States to sustain long-duration crewed missions to the space station.

As the final preparations take place, all eyes are on the upcoming launch, with expectations of a successful mission that could usher in a new era of crew transportation to the ISS.