Ferguson explained that the last time an American launched to space aboard an Atlas was 55 years ago. When Starliner takes off, it will be perched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. "I can imagine the rocket with the Starliner stacked on top, and I look forward to the day we launch from Florida," Mann said. She described the crew's visit to the launchpad, saying there are about 300 steps they'll have to climb to get to the crew access arm and the "white room" - the last stop before boarding their spacecraft. Mann said she was thrilled to see engineers bolting in the avionics system on the spacecraft she will be flying on next year. "I think the most rewarding part is working with the people who are making this happen," explained NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who will be flying on the first official crewed mission with crewmate Josh Cassada. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/)Īll the astronauts were excited to meet the people working diligently to construct their ride to space. NASA astronauts Eric Boe and Nicole Aunapu Mann and Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson will be the crew that flies on the first crewed test mission of the Starliner spacecraft. "I thought it would be pretty exciting, but I tell you, the feeling was really overwhelming." "I'm the rookie of the team, and today I got to climb inside my first spacecraft," she told. That mission will be the first spaceflight for Mann. "Nicole and Chris and myself have a chance to go fly this thing sometime in the near future." "What's cool is this is our ride right here behind us," added Boe, who flew on two shuttle missions.
"It's a really exciting time," Ferguson told reporters during the Aug. (However, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule - the other private astronaut taxi - is currently slated to fly its first crewed test mission in April 2019.) Ferguson, now a private astronaut working for Boeing, also flew on that last shuttle mission. soil since the end of the shuttle program, in 2011. This test flight, scheduled for mid-2019, could mark the first time astronauts will have launched into space from U.S. Boeing's Chris Ferguson will join NASA astronauts Nicole Aunapu Mann and Eric Boe in the Starliner capsule as it ferries its first set of people to the space station. Following that flight will be the first crewed test mission.
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