NASA launches Boeing Crew Flight Test aboard Starliner spacecraft

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a Boeing Starliner spacecraft launches NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard at 10:52 a.m. ET Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo credit. NASA Television

Boeing launched its first ever spacecraft in collaboration with NASA on Wednesday morning. The Starliner spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, carrying astronauts Butch Willmore and Suni Williams on a path to the International Space Station.

According to a statement from NASA, the mission will take approximately 25.5 hours. The crew is expected to dock at the space station at about 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 6.

“The crew flight test mission makes history in several ways,” said NASA in its statement. “As the first crewed launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, Williams is the first female astronaut to fly on the first flight of a crewed spacecraft. The launch also marks the first crewed launch on the ULA Atlas V rocket and the first crewed launch on an Atlas-family class rocket since Gordon Cooper on the last Mercury program flight aboard “Faith 7” in May 1963.”

Visit NASA’s official site to view footage of the historic lift off and stay up to date on the crew's spaceflight.

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