Boeing’s Starliner Launched Successfully and En route to ISS

NASA and Boeing have launched the Starliner capsule. The capsule has thus successfully departed for the International Space Station, after a previous test flight was canceled last year due to problems.

Boeing and NASA launched the CST-100 Starliner on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida on the night of Thursday to Friday. With this, the unmanned test flight Orbital Flight Test-2 has been successfully launched. The intention is that the Starliner will dock at the International Space Station on Friday and the crew will open the door.

The Starliner carries more than 225 kilograms of NASA baggage and supplies for the ISS crew. In addition, the capsule brings about 135 kilograms of stuff from Boeing to the space station. Ultimately, the intention is that the Starliner can make the flights to the ISS with four astronauts on board. The OFT-2 mission should provide NASA and Boeing with a lot of information to achieve that goal.

Starliner’s first attempt to reach the space station failed in late 2019. The capsule went into a wrong orbit, but returned successfully. The second attempt should have taken place in late July or early August last year, but then there were problems with the propulsion system.