Boeing has successfully completed another critical step in the CCDev program with NASA.
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| CST-100 Starliner |
The US giant has indeed achieved a significant parachute deployment qualification test of its CST-100 Starliner capsule, which brings it even closer to a future manned journey to the ISS.
Starliner validates its parachute deployment test
Will the first flight of the Starliner capsule be held this summer? The company, already a century, is it able to get ahead of SpaceX Crew Dragon whose capsule has, unfortunately, exploded during its last static test?
It is clear that it is rather good for Boeing and its capsule CST-100 Starliner. The latter has just passed a brilliant and crucial test that consisted of deploying its parachutes to land at the test range of missile White Sands in southern New Mexico.
This very important qualifying test was aimed at determining the ability of Boeing's capsule to make a return to Earth, a decisive operation since it is in this way that astronauts will return to the mainland if they ever borrow this ship.
To carry out this test, the teams of this program simulated a real flight, as well as a breakdown of parachutes since two of them (on half a dozen), was voluntarily deactivated. The Starliner capsule has been dropped from a balloon at more than 12 km altitude. It took only four minutes for the aircraft to make a proper landing by deploying only a portion of its parachutes.
A deserved success
The success of this test opens the doors of the first unmanned test flight to the ISS for Boeing. If all goes as planned, this qualifying flight could take place on September 17th for a period of seven days.
If it is successful, Boeing would have gained a good lead over SpaceX and Starliner could become the first US craft, from the Space Shuttle, to transport US astronauts from US soil to the International Space Station.
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