Boeing’s Starliner Crew Capsule Makes Space Debut This Week
phys.org / Dec. 18, 2019 / Marcia DunnTesting the cosmic waters will be Rosie the mannequin, decked out in Boeing’s custom blue spacesuit and a red polka dot bandanna modeled after the World War II riveter.
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“Really exciting now!” NASA-turned-Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson recently tweeted. “Let’s go fly.”
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On Wednesday, the towering Atlas V rocket was moved to the launch pad with the Starliner on top. White with black and blue trim, the capsule is 16.5 feet (5 meters) tall with its attached service module — the height of a giraffe — and 15 feet (4.5 meters) in diameter.
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In a first for a U.S. crew capsule bound for orbit, the Starliner will aim for a land, versus water, landing. It’s reusable and this one will be recycled for the second mission with a crew, including NASA astronaut Sunita Williams.
“Bring it back in good shape,” she urged Boeing this week.
Is the MK373?