With Starliner’s Crewed Debut, NASA Again Turns To Test Pilots

NASA astronauts walk toward camera

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams (left) and Barry “Butch” Wilmore walked out for a launch day dress rehearsal on April 26. They are slated to launch as early as May 6 on the long-awaited Crew Flight Test of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner.

Credit: Frank Micheaux/NASA
NASA is once again turning to astronauts with military test pilot experience to cap off the tumultuous, 13-year effort to certify multiple commercial providers for transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station. The participants in the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT)...
Mark Carreau

Mark is based in Houston, where he has written on aerospace for more than 25 years. While at the Houston Chronicle, he was recognized by the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation in 2006 for his professional contributions to the public understanding of America's space program through news reporting.

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