After several failed launch attempts, finally a manned Starliner capsule released on wednesday to carry two NASA astronauts into low Earth orbit. Boeing is testing its capsule’s ability to transport crews to the International Space Station (ISS), with Starliner set to dock at the orbital laboratory on Thursday.
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Update: June 6, 1:45 pm ET: Starliner missed its first docking opportunity at 12:15 p.m. ET due to technical problems, leading NASA to target another docking window that would begin around 1:30 p.m. ET. Five of the spacecraft’s thrusters failed during its approach and four were later recovered. As a result, NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore had to assume manual control of the crew capsule for a time before he reverted to autonomous mode. The capsule finally docked with the ISS at 1:34 pm ET after an exciting journey.
Update: June 6, 1:27 pm ET: Starliner’s docking has not gone smoothly and the spacecraft had problems with the thrusters of its reaction control system.
Update: June 6, 12:40 pm ET: NASA has scrapped Starliner’s first docking opportunity and is now targeting a backup at 1:33 pm ET.
The original article follows.
Starliner is scheduled to dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the space station’s Harmony module at approximately 12:15 p.m. on June 6. where it will remain for approximately a week. The hatch is set to open at 2 pm ET to allow the crew to board the ISS.
The docking maneuver will be broadcast live by NASA websiteas well as that of the space agency youtube channel. The livestream is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET, and you can tune in via the stream below.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule launched atop United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. “Two daring NASA astronauts are well underway on this historic first test flight of a new spacecraft,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. statement. “Human spaceflight is a daring task, but that’s why it’s worth doing.”
he Flight test with crew It is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and is intended to transport crew and cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS) under a $4.3 billion contract with the space agency. NASA’s other commercial partner, SpaceX, has so far launched eight crews to the space station.
During the first crewed Starliner flight, Boeing will monitor a series of automated spacecraft maneuvers, while NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight. Meanwhile, the astronaut crew on board will test the environmental control system, displays and control system and maneuver the thrusters, as well as other features of the spacecraft.
The two astronauts will take a virtual tour of the Starliner capsule from space, which will be broadcast live on Saturday, June 8 at 8:50 am on nasa television.
It has been a struggle for Boeing to reach this stage with its Starliner program, which has been marred by technical setbacks and delays in recent years. Through it all, NASA remained dedicated to watching its crew travel aboard the company’s crew capsule.
“For many of us, this is a career-defining moment that brings with it a new crew transportation capability for our agency and our nation.” Steve Stich, Commercial Crew Program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in a statement: “We are taking it step by step, testing Starliner and remaining alert until Butch and Suni safely land on Earth at the conclusion of this test flight.”
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