A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and Boeing Starliner capsule lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL Wednesday, June 5, 2024 carrying astronauts Butch Willmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station. | © Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Cape Canaveral, FL) – Boeing’s Starliner has successfully launched after two previous failed attempts. It seems that third time’s the charm for the aerospace company that is looking to compete with the SpaceX rockets.
Despite four years of delays, the Starliner spaceship has lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida carrying two astronauts towards the International Space Station.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will now spend 8 days aboard the ISS to test the Starliner to see if it is up to code to carry humans on future missions. They will return back to earth via parachute landing in the western region of the US. Williams is also the first woman to board a crewed test flight mission.
NASA says the move is part of a larger effort of collaboration between private companies and the federal government to explore further into the final frontier.
