INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NASA and its commercial astronaut program partners are laser-focused on getting crew into space
But to get to space you first have to get to the rocket, and that where the Airstream Astrovan II comes in
This vehicle, which is the sequel to the original Astrovan that brought America astronauts to the launch pad in the days of the Shuttle
Program, features modern updates, and is heading straight from being on display at the International Astronautical Congress in Washington to
Cape Canaveral to get ready for Boeing first CST-100 Starliner crew launch next year.
I got a chance to take a look at the Astrovan II in
person, but the Airstream staff on site had cordoned off the door to the van
When I asked if I could go in, they explained it was off limits to attendees — for good reason, as this is literally the van that will be
used by NASA commercial crew astronauts during the first launches next year.
The original Astrovan had that signature Airstream &silver
bullet& look, as you can see in the photo below
The updated version looks more like your standard commercial shuttle van — but what it lacks in exterior styling, it makes up for in
interior creature comforts.
The outside of the Astrovan II has a full-wrap, which shows off Boeing CST-100 Starline capsule, the
spacecraft that Boeing is developing for NASA as part of its commercial crew program (along with second supplier SpaceX, which is
simultaneously readying its Crew Dragon capsule for service).
[gallery ids="1903180,1903175,1903174,1903176,1903177,1903178,1903179"]
The
Astrovan II holds up to eight passengers (compete with flight suits) and is a custom version of the Airstream Atlas Touring Coach that was
hand-built in Jackson Center, Ohio
As you can see, they opted for a minimalist, sci-fi stainless steel look on the inside, with large, comfy-looking chairs that should provide
a smooth ride before the considerably rockier one the crew will experience strapped to a massive, powerful rocket en route to the
International Space Station.
