The Crew Flight Test crew is getting ready for the rendezvous and docking. Today, mission managers gave the “go” for the Starliner spacecraft to proceed with International Space Station (ISS) integrated operations at 12:15 p.m. ET after a review of the vehicle’s status and continued monitoring of the helium system.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now preparing Starliner for near-field rendezvous and docking operations. As Starliner nears the ISS and its VESTA cameras identify the orbital lab, the astronauts don their spacesuits and begin what’s known as near-field operations.
Starliner’s VESTA system will be the first to see the ISS, first as a distant point of light. The spacecraft will then use a combination of its visual sensors, GPS and inertial navigation systems to continue chasing the station. Rendezvous begins with Starliner nearing the station from below, then a series of inbound flyaround maneuvers place the capsule in front of the ISS for its docking approach.
Commander Wilmore will exercise another set of manual piloting demonstrations, which will be similar to those conducted earlier in flight. After that, the mission management team will give a “go” for Starliner to enter the ISS’s Keep Out Sphere, and an automated final docking attempt will begin.