📷 Image Credits: BBC News
Boeing’s Starliner capsule successfully launched today with two NASA astronauts aboard after two previously scrubbed attempts. This marked a historic milestone for Boeing’s crewed spaceflight efforts, culminating in the launch of its first crewed flight test. The veteran NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, rode aboard the Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, known as the Crew Flight Test, is a significant milestone for Boeing’s efforts to rival SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule in ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The launch, marking only the sixth inaugural journey of a crewed spacecraft in US history, has been a decade in the making for Boeing. With Williams becoming the first woman to fly aboard such a mission, the event has added historic significance to NASA’s achievements. The duo will spend just over 24 hours traveling to the space station before docking on Thursday.
Onboard the Starliner is a crucial pump needed to address the space station’s urine processor assembly failure, which occurred on May 29. This mission will allow astronauts to test various aspects of Starliner’s capabilities, including thruster performance, spacesuit functionality, and manual piloting scenarios. Upon completion of the mission, Boeing aims to certify the Starliner spacecraft for routine operations to and from the space station.
Throughout the years, Starliner faced setbacks and delays, with previous launch attempts being scrubbed due to technical issues. However, today’s successful launch signifies a major step forward for Boeing’s spaceflight endeavors. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson commended the collaborative efforts of the teams involved in the mission and emphasized the importance of expanding options for crewed missions to the space station. With Starliner now on its way to the International Space Station, the future of American space exploration looks bright.
