What's Up? The Space Place

Hey Space Placers! BIG NEWS! NASA and Boeing recently announced that December 17, 2019, will be the anticipated launch date for Orbital Flight Test -1 of Boeing's CST 100 Starliner. It will be an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This is a critical step forward for NASA's Commercial Crew Program which was designed to return human spaceflight capability to NASA via commercial partners Boeing and SpaceX/ Boeing's Orbital Flight Test - 1 CST 100 Starliner Being mated to its Service Module. Credit: Boeing via  Ars Technica.com Both Boeing and SpaceX are way behind schedule in returning American human spaceflight capability to NASA since the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011. A successful mission of Starliner would be a huge step forward. I will be at sea in the South Pacific when the planned launch date occurs but I will be watching! Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! I am going to see "Apollo 11-The Movie" at Udvar Hazy IMAX and I can hardly wait. The trailer is a joy to see and hear. How appropriate to share this movie with the successful docking earlier today of SpaceX Crew Dragon at the International Space Station ! NASA Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! A temporary break from New Horizons to Pluto today. NASA NASA has announced the 1st four astronauts to be assigned to the Commercial Crew Program to fly the Boeing CST-100 and SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station beginning in 2017. Be sure to watch the video to hear Bob, Eric, Doug and Sunni's reaction to their historic assignment. All 4 are veteran astronauts having flown in space previously and will use their collective experience to help finalize the spacecraft and prepare and train for their flights. This marks the first flight assignment for U.S. astronauts to fly into space on U.S. spacecraft since the space shuttle was retired in 2011. Boeing's CST-100 is slated for the 1st flight. This is a VERY big step indeed for NASA's return to using American hardware for manned spaceflight. Sky Guy in STILL Cloudy VA