Boeing Starliner launches NASA astronauts on mission to the ISS

The ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket and Starliner spacecraft launches on June 5 from Cape Canaveral Area Pressure Station in Florida. Credit score: NASA.

Replace: After two earlier postponements, NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams are headed to the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) as a part of NASA’s Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Take a look at Launch.

Liftoff was at 10:52 A.M. EDT.

You’ll be able to read the latest updates here from NASA and watch the livestream beneath.

NASA will broadcast the docking, hatch opening, and welcome remarks from the astronauts.

If you’re near Florida’s Area Coast, there are many locations where you can view the launch in person. 

The Boeing Starliner‘s mission

The Starliner is a part of NASA’s Industrial Crew Program, which seeks to launch astronauts into house in a non-public/public partnership utilizing American tech. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule is 15 ft (4.6 meters) in diameter, will be piloted manually or mechanically, and holds as much as seven astronauts. If the mission is profitable, the house company will finalize the certification of Starliner for missions to the ISS. This mission will give attention to verifying the transportation system, together with the launch pad and rocket, in-orbit capabilities, and a crewed return to Earth. Boeing’s Starliner capsules are reusable up to 10 instances earlier than requiring servicing and have options together with wi-fi web. 

“We’re going to have a complete new journey. That is very a lot part of our exploration of house and what I name the ‘golden age of house exploration,’” mentioned NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson throughout a press briefing. “It’s a historic day. It’s an exquisite day.”

Wilmore and Williams will keep on the ISS for a few week earlier than returning to Earth. The craft will use parachutes and a airbags to the touch down within the southwestern U.S.

Wilmore has been on two spaceflights, together with one aboard house Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129), and has spent 178 days in house. Williams was chosen as a NASA astronaut in 1998. Since then, she has logged 322 days in house, additionally on two house missions. 

Listed below are the official biographies of the crew, courtesy of Boeing:

Barry “Butch” E. Wilmore is the Commander of Starliner’s Crew Flight Take a look at (CFT). He was chosen as an astronaut by NASA in July 2000. The Tennessee native is a veteran of two spaceflights, STS-129 and Expedition 41/42.

For STS-129, Wilmore was the pilot for the mission that delivered two Specific Logistics Provider racks and about 30,000 kilos of alternative elements to the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) to take care of its correct orientation in house.

For Expeditions 41/42, Wilmore launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and returned to Earth in Kazakhstan. He was a Flight Engineer for Expedition 41 after which Commander for Expedition 42. Throughout his time on the ISS, Wilmore carried out three spacewalks to organize for brand spanking new worldwide docking adapters and future U.S. industrial crew spacecraft. As well as, he accomplished a fourth spacewalk to interchange a failed voltage regulator.

In whole, Wilmore has spent 178 days in house. His launch on an Atlas V / Starliner will probably be Wilmore’s third rocket and spacecraft mixture to orbit.

A retired Navy Captain, he has collected greater than 8,000 flight hours and 663 provider landings, all in tactical jet plane, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Take a look at Pilot Faculty. As a Navy officer and take a look at pilot, Wilmore flew the F/A-18 Hornet and T-45 Goshawk, and was a Flight Take a look at Teacher on the Air Pressure Take a look at Pilot Faculty at Edwards Air Pressure Base, California.

He’s a graduate of Tennessee Technological College and the College of Tennessee.

Sunita “Suni” L. Williams is the Pilot of Starliner’s Crew Flight Take a look at (CFT). She was chosen as an astronaut by NASA in 1998. The Ohio native is a veteran of two house missions, Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.

For Expedition 14/15, Williams served as an Worldwide Area Station Flight Engineer. She launched with the crew of STS-116 and returned with the crew of STS-117. Whereas onboard, she carried out 4 spacewalks, totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes. She additionally accomplished the Boston Marathon on a station treadmill, with an official completion time of 4:23:10. In the course of the run, Williams circled the Earth at the least twice, operating as quick as 8 mph however f mendacity greater than 5 miles per second.

For Expedition 32/33, Williams launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and returned to Earth in Kazakhstan. She spent 4 months conducting analysis and exploration aboard the orbiting laboratory, first as a Flight Engineer for Expedition 32 after which as Commander for Expedition 33. Whereas onboard, Williams carried out three spacewalks to interchange a part that relays energy from the station’s photo voltaic arrays to its programs, and to restore an ammonia leak on a station radiator.

Williams, who has spent a 322 whole days in house, ranks sixth on the all-time U.S. endurance record, and second all-time for a feminine astronaut. Her launch on an Atlas V / Starliner will probably be Williams’ third rocket and spacecraft mixture to orbit.

A Navy take a look at pilot and retired Captain, she has logged greater than 3,000 flight hours in over 30 completely different plane, together with the CH-46 Sea Knight and V-22 Osprey. She additionally obtained her designation as a Fundamental Diving Officer from the Naval Coastal System Command.

Williams is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Florida Institute of Expertise.

E. Michael Fincke, name signal “Spanky,” is coaching as a backup crew member of Starliner’s Crew Flight Take a look at (CFT) and has been assigned as Pilot of the Starliner-1 mission. He was chosen as an astronaut by NASA in 1996. The Pennsylvania native is a veteran of three spaceflights, Expedition 9 in 2004, Expedition 18 in 2009, and STS-134 in 2011.

For Expedition 9, Fincke served as Science Officer and Flight Engineer throughout his six-month keep onboard the Worldwide Area Station. Whereas there, he carried out 4 spacewalks. For Expedition 18, Fincke served as Commander whereas he and his crew ready the station for future six-person crews. For STS-134, he served as Mission Specialist and accomplished three spacewalks. The mission additionally delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a cosmic ray particle physics detector, to the house station.

In whole, Fincke has logged greater than a yr on orbit, with 9 spacewalks. His launch on an Atlas V / Starliner will probably be Fincke’s third rocket and spacecraft mixture to orbit.

An Air Pressure flight take a look at engineer and retired Colonel, he has logged greater than 1,900 flight hours in 30 completely different plane, together with the F-15 Eagle. He was the recipient of the U.S. Air Pressure Take a look at Pilot Faculty Col. Ray Jones Award because the Prime Flight Take a look at Engineer/Flight Take a look at Navigator at school 93B.

Fincke is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise, Stanford College, El Camino Faculty and the College of Houston-Clear Lake.