Manned Missions, When They Happen, Will Launch From Complex
41
When the United States again undertakes manned spaceflight, the
CST-100 spacecraft designed by Boeing will launch atop a United
Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, according to the company. If
NASA selects Boeing for a development contract with sufficient
funding, ULA will provide launch services for an autonomous orbital
flight, a transonic autonomous abort test launch, and a crewed
launch, all in 2015. "This selection marks a major step forward in
Boeing's efforts to provide NASA with a proven launch capability as
part of our complete commercial crew transportation service,”
said John Elbon, vice president and program manager of Commercial
Crew Programs and the source selection official for Boeing.
Boeing CST-100 Concept
The CST-100 is a reusable, capsule-shaped spacecraft that
includes a crew module and a service module. It relies on proven,
affordable materials and subsystem technologies that can transport
up to seven people, or a combination of people and cargo.
The addition of ULA to the Boeing team enables the start of
detailed design work on an integrated system for launch and
spacecraft operations. The team also will refine launch abort
operations that will meet NASA's stringent human rating
requirements to safely transport crew and cargo to the
International Space Station. Boeing conducted a best-value
competition among U.S. launch service providers prior to selecting
the Atlas V.
"We are pleased Boeing selected the Atlas V rocket and believe
it is the right vehicle to help usher in the new commercial era in
human spaceflight," said George Sowers, ULA's vice president of
business development Thursday. "The Atlas V is a cost-effective,
reliable vehicle and ULA stands ready to support Boeing's
commercial human spaceflight program."
ULA Atlas V
Under the award, ULA will provide launch services from Space
Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station using the
Atlas V 412 configuration with a single solid rocket booster with a
dual engine upper-stage Centaur. The Atlas V system provides the
earliest initial launch capability for commercial crew capability
development, with an un-crewed orbital test flight and a crewed
flight test in 2015.
"From its roots as the launch vehicle for the manned Mercury
program in the 1960's, each new generation of the Atlas system has
demonstrated advancements in reliability and performance," said
Sowers.
ULA says the Atlas vehicle has a record of 97 consecutive
successes – best in the world. The Atlas V has launched 26
times with 100 percent success. In addition, the Atlas V has
received NASA's highest and most rigorous Category 3 Certification,
which allows the Atlas V family of launch vehicles to fly NASA's
most complex and critical exploration missions.