STARLINER - SCI &
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News: Significance of Boeing
Starliner’s first crewed test flight on May 7 | Explained
What's in the news?
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On May 7, Boeing’s Starliner spaceship will launch
two NASA astronauts from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida to
the International Space Station.
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This is the first time Starliner will carry
astronauts, testing its ability to do so.
Key takeaways:
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Boeing will test-fly its crew capsule with
astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams on board in a long-delayed and
crucial mission.
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If the mission succeeds, the U.S. will for the first time in its history have two spacecraft to launch astronauts to
space.
Boeing’s Starliner:
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Boeing’s Starliner is also known as CST-100 (crew space transportation).
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It is a crew capsule designed for space travel.
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It’s partially reusable, meaning it can be used for
multiple missions.
Modules of Starliner:
It consists of two modules such as
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Crew Module: This is where astronauts stay during the journey.
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Service Module: This part is like the powerhouse of the spacecraft
which provides electricity, propulsion (movement), temperature control, air,
and water for the astronauts in space.
Objective:
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To test how well Starliner performs in space with
astronauts on board.
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To dock with the ISS a day after launch and stay
there for about 10 days before returning to Earth.
Other Key Features:
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Starliner is more than 4 meters wide and can house
up to seven astronauts.
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The Starliner has an innovative, weldless structure
and is reusable up to 10 times with a six-month turnaround time.
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It also features wireless internet and tablet
technology for crew interfaces.
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It can be fit atop an Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture
between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Significance of the
Mission:
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The crew may even take a look at seats, assess
onboard lifestyles-help and navigation structures, in addition to examine the
device that moves cargo into the ISS.
● The space suits worn via Wilmore and Williams can also be examined – these blue fits are around 40% lighter than their predecessors and feature touchscreen-sensitive gloves.