Boeing’s Historic Launch of First Human Carrier into Space

Boeing’s Starliner successfully launched using an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida at 9:52 p.m. on June 5 (Hanoi time). The mission, known as the Crewed Flight Test (CFT), had its previous launch attempt canceled just minutes before liftoff on June 1. The Starliner carried two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, on its first human space flight. After reaching orbit, the Starliner will separate from the Atlas V rocket and activate its own engines to journey to the International Space Station (ISS), expected to take about 25 hours.

Various milestones during the launch included the removal of the dual solid rocket boosters at 9:57 p.m. and the separation of the first stage of the Atlas V rocket at 10:01 p.m. The Starliner successfully separated from the rocket’s upper stage at 10:12 p.m., marking an important moment in the mission. About 30 minutes after launch, the Starliner ignited its engines to enter a stable low Earth orbit, positioning it to rendezvous with the ISS. The docking process with the station was scheduled to begin the following day.

During the CFT mission, Wilmore and Williams will test the capabilities of the Starliner and work with the ISS crew for about 8 days. The Starliner is designed to serve as a “safe haven” in case of emergencies on the ISS. After completing the mission, the Starliner will return the astronauts to Earth, landing in the southwestern United States. This mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program, aiming to provide more options for transporting astronauts to the ISS.

Boeing’s Starliner is designed to compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and can carry up to 7 people to the ISS. It features a traditional cockpit layout and is equipped with solar cells for power generation. Despite setbacks in the past, Boeing aims to establish regular operations for transporting astronauts and cargo to the ISS with the Starliner.