📷 Image Credits: KING 5 Seattle
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is finally set to launch at 12:25 ET on June 1st after multiple delays. The highly anticipated inaugural crewed mission has faced setbacks, with the target date moving several times. The mission, known as the Crew Flight Test, will be a significant milestone in Boeing’s efforts to develop a spacecraft capable of ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
The recent delay was due to a small helium leak in the Starliner service module. Despite this issue, the leak was deemed stable and not a threat to the mission. In addition to addressing the helium leak, NASA and Boeing identified a design vulnerability in the propulsion system, leading to changes in the deorbit burn procedure to ensure mission safety.
The Crew Flight Test, a decade in the making, will see NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore crewing the historic flight. The mission holds significance as only the sixth maiden voyage of a crewed spacecraft in US history, with Williams making history as the first woman to embark on such a mission.
Boeing’s Starliner aims to rival SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, offering NASA additional options for astronaut transportation. While the spacecraft has experienced development challenges and setbacks, the upcoming launch represents a significant step forward in Boeing’s space ambitions.
If all goes as planned, the Starliner and its crew will spend over 24 hours en route to the International Space Station, docking at the Harmony module. Following a week-long stay, the astronauts will return to Earth aboard the Starliner capsule, marking the completion of this historic mission. Stay tuned for live coverage of the launch activities and follow the exciting journey of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
