Editor’s note: The launch of Boeing’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station, as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, now is targeted for 6:36 a.m. EST Friday, Dec. 20. NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance agreed to target the new date to allow for completion of a critical prelaunch milestone, known as a wet dress rehearsal, on Friday, Dec. 6. The milestone occurred one day later than planned due to the weather-related launch delay of an International Space Station re-supply mission, which created a resource conflict with the U.S. Air Force Eastern Range.
Editor’s note: The launch of Boeing’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station now is targeted for 6:59 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 19. NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance agreed to target the new date to allow ULA sufficient time to resolve an issue with the rocket’s purge air supply.
Media accreditation is open for Boeing’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test (OFT) to the International Space Station, as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is targeted for Dec. 17 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida.
The flight test will provide valuable data on the end-to-end performance of the Atlas V rocket, Starliner spacecraft, and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, and landing operations. The data will be used as part of NASA’s process of certifying Boeing’s crew transportation system for carrying astronauts to and from the space station.
Media prelaunch and launch activities will take place at neighboring NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and CCAFS.
Media accreditation deadlines are as follows:
- International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT Sunday, Oct. 27, for access to Kennedy media activities.
- U.S. media must apply by 4 p.m. EST Friday, Nov. 15.
All accreditation requests should be submitted online at:
For questions about accreditation, please email ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions, contact Kennedy’s newsroom at 321-867-2468.
Reporters with special logistics requests for Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, tents, electrical connections or work spaces, must contact Tiffany Fairley at tiffany.l.fairley@nasa.gov by Friday, Nov. 15.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with the American aerospace industry through a public-private partnership to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil for the first time since 2011. The goal of the program is safe, reliable and cost-effective human space transportation to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit, which could allow for additional research time and increase the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s testbed for exploration.
For launch countdown coverage, NASA’s launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit:
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Joshua Finch
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
Marie Lewis / Tori McLendon / Jennifer Wolfinger
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
marie.g.lewis@nasa.gov/ tori.n.mclendon@nasa.gov / jennifer.wolfinger@nasa.gov
Dan Huot / Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
daniel.g.huot@nasa.gov / kyle.j.herring@nasa.gov
Josh Barrett / Jessica Landa
Boeing
321- 607-4118 / 321-360-9132
joshua.d.barrett2@boeing.com / jessica.landa@boeing.com