--- title: "Commander of First Boeing Astronaut Launch Issues Warning" description: "The two NASA astronauts on board Boeing's first crewed Starliner test flight are both confident — and realistic — about what to expect." date: "2024-03-27" modified: "2024-03-27" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/commander-boeing-astronaut-launch-warning" categories: - "Boeing" - "Space" tags: - "boeing" - "commercial crew transportation program" - "NASA" - "starliner" --- # Commander of First Boeing Astronaut Launch Issues Warning ![The two NASA astronauts on board Boeing's first crewed Starliner test flight are both confident — and realistic — about what to expect.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Pobody's Nerfect NASA's Commercial Crew program was designed to provide a safe, reliable, and cost-effective way to get astronauts to and from the International Space Station from US soil. While SpaceX has made considerable progress with its Crew Dragon spacecraft under the program, with two test flights and [eight crewed operational flights]() to the ISS over the past [five years](), Boeing has lagged far behind with its Starliner capsule. After many years of [technical issues](), a [failed uncrewed test flight](), and [many delays](), Boeing and NASA are now finally preparing for Starliner's first crewed test flight in May. There will be two NASA astronauts on board the capsule. And the first commander, Butch Wilmore, is warning that not all will go according to plan. "The expectation from the media should not be perfection," Wilmore [told *Ars Technica*](). "This is a test flight. Flying and operating in space is hard. It’s really hard, and we’re going to find some stuff. That’s expected." ## 737 Max Starliner Boeing's struggles with its Starliner capsule really came to light when its first uncrewed orbital test flight in 2019 [ended prematurely]() due to a software glitch. A follow-up attempt also faced [many months of delays]() due to a variety of technical problems. Despite the initial hiccups, the company's [attempt in May 2022]() successfully saw a Starliner dock at the ISS and make its return back to Earth. But even that success was mired in technological issues, from [misfiring thrusters and weirdly behaving cooling systems]() to underperforming [parachutes](). Then, of course, [there's the drama]() surrounding Boeing's commercial airliners. Earlier this week, David Calhoun, the CEO of the deeply embattled aerospace giant, [announced]() he was resigning following an [alarmingly long list]() of [quality lapses](). Boeing officials, though, are hoping to move on with the upcoming crewed test flight. "We can safely say those issues are behind us," Boeing's Starliner program manager Mark Nappi told *Ars*. Nappi and his team appear to be cautiously optimistic about May's attempt. Experts back on the ground are going through all the safety features and failsafes in preparation. As [*Space.com* reports](), teams simulated the event of the station encountering space junk, which would force crews to shelter inside the Starliner capsule and undock from the ISS. Nonetheless, this isn't an operational crew flight, and teams are expecting to make several modifications before NASA certifies it as a worthy alternative to SpaceX's Crew Dragon. "The crew is so prepared, \[but\] it's a test flight," ascent flight director Mike Lammers told *Space.com*. "We know we're going to learn things, and we're going to really enjoy it." **More on Starliner:** *[Boeing Preparing to Launch Astronauts as Parts Fall Off Its Planes Mid-Flight]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()