Source: Boeing
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner is a next-generation crew capsule designed to transport astronauts to and from low Earth orbit destinations such as the International Space Station (ISS). Developed in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the Starliner represents a major milestone in the commercialization of human spaceflight. With its innovative design, advanced technologies, and focus on crew safety and comfort, the Starliner aims to usher in a new era of reliable, cost-effective access to space.
Design and Development
Boeing began developing the CST-100 Starliner in 2010 as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program. The spacecraft’s design draws upon Boeing’s extensive experience with NASA’s Apollo, Space Shuttle, and ISS programs, as well as the company’s expertise in commercial aviation. The Starliner is designed to be compatible with multiple launch vehicles, including the United Launch Alliance Atlas V, providing flexibility and redundancy in launch options.
The Starliner’s capsule architecture is reminiscent of the Apollo spacecraft, with a gumdrop-shaped crew module and a cylindrical service module. However, the Starliner incorporates numerous technological advancements and modern design features. The spacecraft is constructed using an innovative weldless design, which reduces mass and improves structural integrity. The capsule’s heat shield employs Boeing’s proprietary Lightweight Ablator (BLA) material, providing robust thermal protection during atmospheric reentry.
One of the most notable features of the Starliner is its reusability. The spacecraft is designed to be used up to 10 times, with a six-month turnaround time between missions. This reusability is expected to significantly reduce the cost of access to space and enable more frequent crewed missions to the ISS and other low Earth orbit destinations.
Crew Accommodations
The CST-100 Starliner is designed to carry up to seven crew members, or a mix of crew and cargo. The spacecraft’s interior is designed with crew comfort and safety in mind. The Starliner features ergonomic seats that are individually adjustable to accommodate crew members of varying sizes. The seats are also designed to absorb the forces experienced during launch and landing, minimizing the risk of injury to the crew.
The Starliner’s crew module includes a state-of-the-art environmental control and life support system (ECLSS), which provides a comfortable and safe environment for the crew during all phases of the mission. The ECLSS maintains the cabin’s temperature, humidity, and air quality, and also includes a waste management system and a water recovery system.
The spacecraft’s avionics and control systems are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. The Starliner features touch-screen displays and a wireless tablet interface, allowing crew members to easily monitor and control the spacecraft’s systems. The spacecraft also includes a comprehensive suite of safety features, including an automated emergency detection system and a crew escape system that can quickly separate the crew module from the service module in the event of an emergency.
Autonomous Capabilities
One of the most impressive features of the CST-100 Starliner is its autonomous capabilities. The spacecraft is designed to operate with minimal input from the crew, reducing the workload on the astronauts and allowing them to focus on their mission objectives.
The Starliner’s advanced guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system enables the spacecraft to autonomously navigate to and dock with the ISS. The GNC system uses a combination of GPS, inertial measurement units, and optical sensors to determine the spacecraft’s position and orientation in space. The system also includes a collision avoidance system that can automatically maneuver the spacecraft to avoid potential collisions with other objects in orbit.
During the docking process, the Starliner’s autonomous systems take over, guiding the spacecraft to a precise rendezvous with the ISS. The spacecraft’s docking system includes a NASA Docking System (NDS) adapter, which is compatible with the International Docking Adapter (IDA) on the ISS. Once docked, the Starliner’s hatch can be opened from the inside, allowing the crew to enter the space station.
Launch and Landing
The CST-100 Starliner is designed to launch atop a variety of rockets, providing flexibility and redundancy in launch options. The primary launch vehicle for the Starliner is the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V has a proven track record of reliability, having launched numerous military, scientific, and commercial payloads over the past two decades.
During the launch sequence, the Starliner and its crew are protected by the spacecraft’s launch abort system (LAS). The LAS consists of four solid rocket motors that can quickly propel the crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency. The LAS is designed to operate at any point during the launch sequence, from the launch pad to orbit.
After completing its mission, the Starliner returns to Earth for a land-based landing. The spacecraft is equipped with a trio of main parachutes that slow its descent through the atmosphere. Just before touchdown, the spacecraft deploys six airbags to cushion its landing. The Starliner is designed to land on solid ground, with several designated landing sites across the western United States.
Testing and Certification
Before the CST-100 Starliner can begin carrying astronauts to the ISS, it must undergo a rigorous testing and certification process to ensure its safety and reliability. Boeing and NASA have been working closely together to put the Starliner through a series of increasingly complex tests, from component-level testing to full-scale flight demonstrations.
In 2019, the Starliner completed its first orbital flight test (OFT-1), an uncrewed mission designed to test the spacecraft’s systems in the actual environment of space. Although the mission encountered some challenges, including an issue with the spacecraft’s mission elapsed timer that prevented it from docking with the ISS, the Starliner safely returned to Earth, demonstrating the resilience of its design.
Following the OFT-1 mission, Boeing and NASA conducted a thorough review of the Starliner’s systems and software, identifying areas for improvement. In May 2022, the Starliner completed its second orbital flight test (OFT-2), successfully demonstrating its ability to autonomously dock with the ISS and safely return to Earth.
With the successful completion of the OFT-2 mission, the Starliner is one step closer to receiving NASA certification for crewed missions. The next major milestone for the program is the Crew Flight Test (CFT), which will see a crew of NASA astronauts fly aboard the Starliner to the ISS. The CFT mission is currently scheduled for no earlier than June 2024.
Source: tonybela.com
Future Missions and Applications
Once the CST-100 Starliner receives NASA certification, it will begin regular crew rotation missions to the ISS. These missions will typically last six months, with the Starliner ferrying up to four astronauts and critical cargo to the orbiting laboratory.
In addition to its role in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, the Starliner has the potential to support a wide range of other missions and applications in low Earth orbit. The spacecraft’s versatile design and autonomous capabilities make it well-suited for missions such as space tourism, commercial research, and satellite servicing. However, Boeing has already announced that it currently has no plans to use the Starliner for commercial space tourism flights, but may do so with the future.
The Starliner’s large interior volume and modular design also make it an attractive platform for commercial research and manufacturing in microgravity. The spacecraft could be used to transport experiments and equipment to and from the ISS, or even serve as a standalone research facility in orbit.
As the commercial space industry continues to grow and evolve, the CST-100 Starliner is poised to play a key role in enabling new markets and applications in low Earth orbit. With its innovative design, advanced technologies, and focus on safety and reliability, the Starliner represents a major step forward in the commercialization of human spaceflight.
Summary
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner is a testament to the ingenuity and expertise of the American aerospace industry. Developed in partnership with NASA, the Starliner embodies the best of both government and commercial space programs, combining the rigorous safety and reliability standards of NASA with the innovation and efficiency of private industry.
As the Starliner moves closer to its first crewed mission, it is clear that the spacecraft represents a new era in human spaceflight. With its autonomous capabilities, reusable design, and focus on crew safety and comfort, the Starliner is well-positioned to become a workhorse of low Earth orbit, supporting a wide range of missions and applications.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter which summarizes all articles from the previous week.
