Boeing's Starliner Embarks on Successful Mission with Crew Aboard

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are on their way to the ISS

After a series of delays and issues, Boeing's first Starliner flight with a human crew has finally taken off. The spacecraft launched successfully on top of United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket, with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams onboard.

The original launch date was pushed back multiple times due to technical difficulties. The ground teams detected issues with a pressure regulation valve and a helium leak in the spacecraft's service module. However, the teams were able to resolve these problems and move forward with the launch.

The astronauts entered the Starliner capsule and completed necessary checks before lift-off. The spacecraft took off at 10:52 am ET, carrying 760 pounds of cargo including food and supplies for the ISS crew.

Wilmore and Williams will spend eight days on the ISS conducting tests to determine the Starliner's readiness for regular flights to the orbiting laboratory. If the mission is successful, NASA will begin the final process of certifying Starliner for crewed rotation missions to the space station.