The first look at Boeing's Starliner, which docked with the International Space Station for the first time on Friday, May 20th, has been given to interested earthlings by NASA astronauts.
The capsule that was supposed to take it to the International Space Station failed in its first crewless flight test in February and was launched on Thursday.
Once fully tested, the Starliner will take astronauts to and from the space station in missions launched from U.S. soil.
"Welcome to #Starliner for the very first time ever, in space." @Astro_FarmerBob takes us on a tour inside the @BoeingSpace spacecraft that arrived on Friday, May 20, on a demonstration flight to the International @Space_Station: pic.twitter.com/uaezcvaWGw
— NASA (@NASA) May 21, 2022
Rosie, a sensor-laden mannequin designed to help researchers learn more about the performance of the spaceship during its voyage and its effects on the human body, can be seen in the footage from inside the Starliners.
The interior of the Starliner looks cluttered compared to NASA's Crew Dragon, though the footage doesn't show the whole thing.
The Starliner's systems have been powered down as they would be during a regular mission, according to a photo posted by NASA.
#Starliner has entered a planned quiescent phase while docked to the @space_station, which means its systems were powered down just like they would be during a long-duration mission.
📷: @AstroSamantha pic.twitter.com/YuS53J59kk
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 22, 2022
The Starliner will stay at the space station for between five and 10 days before landing in New Mexico. NASA and Boeing may schedule a crewed test of the spaceship in another mission to the International Space Station before the end of the year.
The Starliners can hold up to seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo. 500 pounds of cargo was transported to the International Space Station.
The Starliner is robust enough to be used up to 10 separate missions, with a six-month turn around, according to Boeing. Similar to the Crew Dragon, it also includes wireless internet and tablets for crew interface.
The return leg of the Starliner's journey will see the capsule subjected for the first time to the extreme forces of re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The schedule for the trip home is expected to be released soon.
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