A Boeing Starliner capsule soared into space Wednesday on its long-awaited first crewed test flight, carrying astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams. The mission marked a milestone for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, but not without some late-day drama.
The launch went smoothly, with the powerful Atlas 5 rocket blasting off from Cape Canaveral. However, mission controllers encountered unexpected helium leaks in the Starliner’s propulsion system later in the day. Thankfully, they were able to isolate the leaks, although it hampered some thruster functionality.
Despite the hiccups, Wilmore and Williams expressed enthusiasm for the spacecraft and the mission’s progress. They are scheduled to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station on Thursday.
This flight marks several historic firsts. It’s the first astronaut launch on an Atlas 5 rocket in over 60 years and the first crewed mission for Starliner, Boeing’s competitor to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule. Crew Dragon has already completed numerous successful missions.
While Starliner arrives at the space station, SpaceX is gearing up for a separate launch of its massive Super Heavy-Starship rocket. This test flight aims to perfect the booster and upper stage critical for NASA’s Artemis moon landing program.
Meanwhile, Wilmore and Williams will join the station’s crew for a planned week-long stay. Their return to Earth hinges on weather conditions at landing sites in the western United States.
This mission signifies a crucial step for NASA’s goal of having multiple companies handle astronaut transportation. It began funding both SpaceX and Boeing after the Space Shuttle program ended, ensuring continued access to the space station even if one spacecraft encounters problems.
The road to this launch wasn’t smooth for Starliner. Initial launch attempts were plagued by technical issues, including software glitches and propulsion system problems. These delays pushed the first crewed flight from a planned 2020 date to 2023.
Despite the challenges, Starliner’s successful launch, albeit with some complications, marks a significant moment for Boeing and NASA’s human spaceflight endeavors.
