Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX’s Dragon Set to Transport Astronauts to the International Space Station
In a major milestone for NASA’s Commercial Crew program, two spacecrafts – Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX’s Dragon – have been designed to transport astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station. Both spacecrafts were funded by NASA under the Commercial Crew contract in 2014.
Boeing’s Starliner is all set to launch on its first crewed mission on May 6th from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Starliner will be launched with the help of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Once certified by NASA, the Starliner will join SpaceX’s Dragon in transporting NASA crews.
According to Boeing, NASA has already purchased six additional crewed missions beyond the upcoming flight test. The crew capsule for the Starliner mission has been named Calypso and will be flown by astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams.
On the other hand, the SpaceX Dragon has been successfully transporting NASA crews since 2020 and has docked to the ISS in the past. The Dragon and Starliner have different landing methods, with the Starliner landing on the ground and the Dragon splashing down in the ocean.
Both spacecrafts have received government funding from NASA, with Boeing receiving $4.8 billion and SpaceX receiving $3.1 billion. Exciting times lie ahead in space exploration as these spacecrafts take astronauts to new heights.
For more updates on the aerospace industry, stay tuned to Jala News. Contact our Space Reporter, Brooke Edwards, at [email protected] for more information.
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