Boeing Prepares for Starliner Astronaut Mission to ISS

First Crewed Flight of Commercial Spacecraft Scheduled for June 5

NASA Astronauts to Test Capsule's Readiness for Future Missions

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (June 5, 2024) – Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is set to launch its first astronaut mission for NASA on June 5th. This critical test flight will demonstrate the commercial capsule's capability to transport crews to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

The Starliner mission will be crewed by NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams. The duo will embark on a six-month expedition to the space station, conducting experiments and performing maintenance tasks.

The Starliner's journey to the ISS will involve a series of rendezvous procedures. Cameras onboard the spacecraft will detect the space station as a bright point of light against the backdrop of stars. The spacecraft will then maneuver to approach the station for docking.

The mission comes after two previous launch attempts were called off due to technical issues with the Atlas V rocket. Boeing has since rectified these problems and conducted extensive testing to ensure the Starliner's readiness for launch.

The launch of the Starliner astronaut mission marks a significant milestone for commercial spaceflight. Boeing's capsule is designed to provide a safe and reliable means of transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, reducing reliance on government-operated spacecraft.