United Launch Alliance's Atlas V Rockets Poised for Historic Mission with Boeing CST-100 Starliner

After several delays and cancellations, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is finally gearing up to launch its powerful Atlas V rocket carrying NASA astronauts on a critical mission to the International Space Station. The highly anticipated flight marks an important milestone in ULA's partnership with aerospace giant Boeing as it prepares for operational crewed missions aboard its new CST-100 Starliner spacecraft.

The upcoming Crew Test Flight (CFT) mission will be the first orbital test of the Atlas V rocket carrying astronauts since NASA retired its Space Shuttle program nearly a decade ago. This historic launch represents another significant step towards U.S. leadership in human spaceflight and underscores Boeing's commitment to safely returning American crew members to low-Earth orbit.

The CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, designed by Boeing under contract with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP), is an integral component of this mission. Developed using a combination of government funding and private investment from Boeing as part of its commercial spaceflight endeavors, the Starliner boasts cutting-edge capabilities including advanced life support systems, pressurized cargo capacity for up to seven astronauts or 29 short tons of supplies.

The Atlas V rocket chosen for this critical mission features an expendable RD-180 first stage engine coupled with a reusable Common Core Second Stage (CCS) powered by four RL10 engines. This proven combination has successfully delivered numerous satellites, spacecraft and other payloads into orbit since its introduction in 2002.

Upon reaching the International Space Station's orbital rendezvous point approximately six hours after liftoff from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex-41 on Florida’s Merritt Island, NASA astronauts will perform a series of complex docking procedures to berth the Starliner craft with the station’s Harmony node. Once safely secured in place, crew members can then exit their spacecraft and begin conducting scientific experiments as well as performing maintenance tasks aboard ISS.

This historic mission represents yet another significant milestone achieved through ULA's strong partnership with NASA and Boeing towards ensuring continued American leadership in space exploration efforts moving forward into this new era of commercialized human spaceflight.

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