Boeing's Starliner Astronaut Mission to Launch Today

Critical Test Flight to Prove Commercial Space Capsule's Readiness

Boeing's Starliner astronaut mission is set to launch today, June 6, on a critical test flight to demonstrate the commercial space capsule's readiness for future crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, known as Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2), will carry two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, into orbit.

A Long-Awaited Milestone

Starliner is Boeing's first-ever astronaut mission and a key milestone in the company's efforts to compete with SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which has been the only US-based spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to and from the ISS since 2020. The mission has faced numerous delays and setbacks, including two aborted launch attempts in 2019 and 2021. But if successful, OFT-2 will pave the way for Starliner to become a major player in the commercial space industry.

Details of the Mission

The Starliner capsule is scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch is set for 10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC). The capsule will then spend about 24 hours in orbit, performing various tests and maneuvers before docking with the ISS around 12:15 pm EDT (16:15 UTC) on June 6.

Wilmore and Williams will spend about eight days on the ISS, conducting research and maintenance tasks. They will also help to test Starliner's systems and ensure that it is ready for future crewed missions. The astronauts are expected to return to Earth on June 13.