Boeing’s Starliner’s third crewed launch try was profitable. The spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 10:52 a.m. ET on Wednesday and has now reached a “protected and steady orbit.”
Starliner will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the Worldwide Area Station in about 24 hours, the place they’ll “take a look at the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner system.” The 2 astronauts will stay on the Worldwide Area Station for a couple of week earlier than parachuting within the western United States.
The launch has been underway for the reason that launch of NASA’s industrial crew program in 2014, with Boeing and SpaceX chosen as its two personal companions liable for transporting astronauts to the Worldwide Area Station and again. Boeing acquired $4.2 billion to develop Starliner, however it has encountered years of issues since then, whereas SpaceX’s Crew Dragon rocket has soared.
Starliner’s first uncrewed launch failed in 2019, however it is going to finally dock with the Worldwide Area Station in 2022. , NASA canceled the second stage of the Atlas V rocket for this mission. A second try was made on June 1, however was canceled minutes earlier than takeoff on account of issues with considered one of ULA’s floor computer systems.
