Boeing’s new astronaut capsule successfully launched from Florida on Wednesday, marking a key milestone in the company’s efforts to compete with SpaceX. The Starliner CST-100, carrying two astronauts, took off from Cape Canaveral attached to an Atlas V rocket developed by Boeing and Lockheed Martin through their joint project, United Launch Alliance.
The crewed capsule is headed for the International Space Station (ISS), after completing its first test trip to the orbiting laboratory two years ago. The docking and return to Earth will be challenging for the Starliner, but are crucial for the success of the mission.
This launch puts Boeing in competition with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule as a major player in space travel. Despite last-minute issues causing delays in the first few launch attempts, the mission eventually took off successfully. The crew includes two experienced NASA astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who have logged a combined 500 days in space during previous missions.
Wilmore, a retired Navy captain and fighter pilot, is the flight commander, while Williams, a former test pilot, is in the pilot’s seat. They are expected to spend about a week on the ISS before returning to Earth. This mission highlights Boeing’s commitment to advancing space exploration and its competitiveness in the industry.