https://nitter.net/csa_asc/status/1727343757102547229#m

Just announced! @Astro_Kutryk will be the next Canadian to fly to the @Space_Station as a crewmember of the Starliner-1 mission, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner crew ship’s first operational mission. Launch is targeted for no earlier than the beginning of 2025.

He will become the first CSA astronaut to be part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. During his mission, Joshua will conduct science experiments and technology demonstrations. He will also support critical operations and maintenance activities.

  • @[email protected]English
    3•7 months ago

    Oof, NET 2025. That tracks with the crew demo flight being like March 2024 and needing analysis before the next mission. I really wonder if this thing will ever fly for something other than an already contracted ISS mission.

    • @threelonmusketeersOPMEnglish
      2•7 months ago

      crew demo flight being like March 2024

      It’s slipped to April now, I think.

      wonder if this thing will ever fly for something other than an already contracted ISS mission

      The Axiom station or BO’s Orbital Reef, maybe? The ISS won’t be the only western space station for ever. Whether Starliner is a sensible business decision for Boeing to pursue is another story though…

      • @[email protected]English
        3•7 months ago

        Orbital Reef has mentioned Starliners and crewed Dreamchasers in the past to go with the Boeing and Sierra Space partnerships. Voyager/Starlab has talked about Gaganyaan, Cygnus (cargo), and ESA cargo from a TBD vehicle.

        I’d think that NASA would still want dissimilar redundancy for crew vehicles, but it doesn’t seem like they’d be in control of unless they’re booking their own crew transport, which I thought they were trying to get away from.