Long-awaited Crew Flight Test pushed back to early May
- NASA and Boeing delay Starliner capsule’s 1st astronaut launch to early May
- Crew Flight Test (CFT) was originally scheduled for mid-April
- Technical issues and ISS scheduling contribute to the delay
- Starliner will launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket
- Boeing has been developing Starliner under a multibillion-dollar contract with NASA
- Starliner has had two uncrewed test flights, with mixed results
- SpaceX has launched eight operational astronaut missions to the ISS for NASA
The long-delayed first crewed mission of Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, called Crew Flight Test (CFT), has been postponed once again. Originally scheduled for mid-April, the launch is now planned for early May due to space station scheduling. The test flight will send Starliner and NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station for a roughly 10-day stay. Boeing has been developing Starliner under a multibillion-dollar contract with NASA since 2014. The capsule has had two uncrewed test flights, with technical issues on the first mission and successful docking on the second. In comparison, SpaceX has launched eight operational astronaut missions to the ISS for NASA.
Factuality Level: 7
Factuality Justification: The article provides a detailed update on the delay of Boeing’s Starliner capsule mission to the ISS, including reasons for the delay, previous technical issues, and background information on the development of the capsule. The information presented is relevant and factual, without significant bias or misleading content.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the delay of Boeing’s Starliner capsule mission to the ISS, including reasons for the delay and previous technical issues. It also briefly mentions SpaceX’s involvement in commercial crew missions. However, the article contains some repetitive information and unnecessary details that do not significantly contribute to the main topic.
Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: The article does not pertain to financial topics and does not describe any extreme events.
Public Companies: Boeing (BA), United Launch Alliance (Not available)
Private Companies: SpaceX
Key People: Butch Wilmore (NASA astronaut), Suni Williams (NASA astronaut), Elon Musk (CEO of SpaceX)
Reported publicly:
www.space.com 
