Boeing's Starliner Capsule Set for Critical Test Flight

Preparations Underway for Docking with International Space Station

Scheduled for June 6, 12:15 PM

Boeing is poised to launch its first-ever Starliner astronaut mission for NASA, a critical test flight aimed at demonstrating the readiness of its commercial space capsule for operational use. Developed under contract with NASA to compete with SpaceX's Crew Dragon, which has been ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) since 2020, Starliner is designed to provide an alternative transportation system to the ISS.

The upcoming mission will be a key milestone for Boeing and NASA, as Starliner has faced setbacks in previous attempts. The capsule's maiden crewed flight in 2019 was aborted shortly after launch due to software issues, and a second attempt in 2021 was also called off because of a propulsion system problem. With these challenges behind it, Boeing is now confident in the reliability of Starliner and is eager to prove its capabilities.

Scheduled to launch on June 6, Starliner is expected to dock with the ISS around 12:15 pm Eastern Time. The capsule will carry a crew of three astronauts who will spend approximately six months on the orbiting laboratory conducting experiments and performing maintenance tasks.