NASA Prepares for Space Station Cargo Launch May 6 from Cape Canaveral, Will CarryAstronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams
By NASA information center // April 30, 2024
Launch of the ULA Atlas V rocket and Boeing Starliner spacecraft targeted for 10:34 p.m. EDT
Starliner will dock to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at 12:48 a.m., Wednesday, May 8.
(NASA) – NASA will launch the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test on May 6, which will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the International Space Station.
Launch of the ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket and Boeing Starliner spacecraft is targeted for 10:34 p.m. EDT Monday, May 6, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The flight test will carry Wilmore and Williams to the space station for about a week to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems before NASA certifies the transportation system for rotational missions to the orbiting laboratory for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Starliner will dock to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at 12:48 a.m., Wednesday, May 8.
NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Wednesday, May 1
1:30 p.m. – Virtual news conference at Kennedy with the flight test astronauts:
NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore
NASA astronaut Suni Williams
Coverage of the virtual news conference will stream live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Media may ask questions via phone only. For the dial-in number and passcode, please contact the Kennedy newsroom no later than 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, at: ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
Friday, May 3
12:30 p.m. – Prelaunch news conference at Kennedy (no earlier than one hour after completion of the Launch Readiness Review) with the following participants:
■ NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
■ Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
■ Dana Weigel, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
■ Emily Nelson, chief flight director, NASA
■ Jennifer Buchli, chief scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
■ Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
■ Gary Wentz, vice president, of Government and Commercial Programs, ULA
■ Brian Cizek, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Coverage of the prelaunch news conference will stream live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Media may ask questions in person and via phone. Limited auditorium space will be available for in-person participation. For the dial-in number and passcode, media should contact the Kennedy newsroom no later than 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 3, at ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.
3:30 p.m. – NASA Social panel live stream event at Kennedy with the following participants:
■ Ian Kappes, deputy launch vehicle office manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
■ Amy Comeau Denker, Starliner associate chief engineer, Boeing
■ Caleb Weiss, system engineering and test leader, ULA
■ Jennifer Buchli, chief scientist, NASA’s International Space Station Program
Monday, May 6
■ 6:30 p.m. – Launch coverage begins on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
■ 10:34 p.m. – Launch
Launch coverage on NASA+ will end shortly after Starliner orbital insertion. NASA Television will provide continuous coverage leading up to docking and through hatch opening and welcome remarks.
Tuesday, May 7
12 a.m. – Postlaunch news conference with the following participants:
■ Boeing StarlinerNASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy
■ Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate
■ Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
■ Dana Weigel, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
■ Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
■ Gary Wentz, vice president, Government and Commercial Programs, ULA
Wednesday, May 8
■ 12:48 a.m. – Targeted docking to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module
■ 2:35 a.m. – Hatch opening
■ 3:15 a.m. – Welcome remarks
■ 4:15 a.m. – Post-docking news conference at Johnson with the following participants:
■ NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free
■ Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
■ Dana Weigel, manager, NASA’s International Space Station Program
■ Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
All times are estimates and could be adjusted based on operations after launch. Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date operations information.
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