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Need an elevator for the space?
Since the withdrawal of the space shuttle by NASA in 2011, the Russian spacecraft Soyuz is the only way for astronauts to access the space. But soon, NASA astronauts will be able to board the Boeing CST-100 Starliner, which is currently in the final stages of development.
The drop-shaped gum capsule is designed to function essentially as a space taxi, carrying up to seven astronauts and their cargo to and from the International Space Station. Boeing is expected to conduct its first crew test flight to ISS next year. (SpaceX is putting the finishing touches to its Crew Dragon capsule, which should also carry its first crew in 2019.)
NBC News MACH recently visited a Starliner mock-up at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to get a glimpse of the spacecraft – and an idea of what it would be like to fly aboard the futuristic capsule. [Editor’s note: Boeing is a sponsor of MACH’s Making of an Astronaut series.]
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