Boeing’s Spacecraft Lifts Off With Astronauts

Starliner’s crew flight test (CFT) is the first time the capsule has carried humans and is intended to be its final mission before NASA moves to certify it for service.

Wednesday, June 05, 2024 at 02:09 PM ET

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Boeing’s Starliner launches from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida atop United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket on Wednesday at 10:52 a.m. EDT. [Courtesy: Boeing/Joey Jetton]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's Starliner successfully launched its first crewed mission (CFT) with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after several delays due to technical issues.
The mission is a critical test flight aimed at certifying Starliner for routine commercial crew rotation missions to the International Space Station (ISS), involving extensive evaluation of its systems and capabilities.
Despite previous setbacks and a "calculated risk" due to a helium leak, the flight is crucial for Boeing's reputation and provides NASA with a vital second independent spacecraft for crew transport, complementing SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

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After nearly a month of setbacks due to a faulty valve, a helium leak, and other obstacles, Boeing’s Starliner is headed for the cosmos.

On Wednesday morning, the autonomous, semireusable space capsule—intended for 10 service missions to the International Space Station (ISS) under a multibillion contract between the aerospace manufacturer and NASA—finally lifted off with humans for the first time.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.