Airstream's New Astrovan II Prepared To Shuttle Boeing's Starliner Crew Next Year

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’s where the Airstream  Astrovan II comes in. This vehicle, which is the sequel to the original Astrovan that brought America’s 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’s 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’s 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.

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