NASA to Hold Prelaunch News Conference Following ULA Launch Readiness Review

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft is lifted at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Plans to send two NASA astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket early next week remain on track. 

ULA completed its Launch Readiness Review on May 3 and gave a “go” to proceed toward launch at 10:34 p.m. EDT Monday, May 6, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. 

Teams at ULA assessed the readiness of the rocket, discussed the pre-flight work, reviewed launch day operations, and previewed the early weather forecast. 

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test will launch NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on Starliner for about a week-long mission to the International Space Station, culminating with a parachute landing in the southwestern United States. 

At 12:30 p.m., NASA will host its prelaunch news conference 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 
  • 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, Government and Commercial Programs, ULA 
  • Brian Cizek, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

The prelaunch news conference air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.  

Here is a list of other upcoming events leading up to the mission.

Learn more about NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test by following the mission blog, the commercial crew blog, @commercial_crew on X, and commercial crew on Facebook.