After years of delays, Boeing's Starliner capsule is set to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), a milestone for the US aerospace giant and NASA. The flight, a final test before Starliner takes up regular service for the space agency, is critical for Boeing, whose reputation has suffered of late due to safety issues with its passenger jets.

Washington

Boeing's Starliner capsule, after facing years of delays, is on the brink of conducting its first crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission represents a significant achievement for both Boeing and NASA, marking a crucial phase in the capsule's development process. The upcoming flight is viewed as the final test for the Starliner before it is expected to commence regular missions for NASA, highlighting the importance of this endeavor for Boeing amidst its recent challenges with safety concerns regarding its passenger jets.

The Starliner spacecraft is slated to transport two experienced astronauts to the ISS, utilizing an Atlas rocket for its launch from Cape Canaveral. The journey to the ISS is planned to take 26 hours, with the mission serving as a pivotal test for the spacecraft's operational capabilities. This mission is especially significant for Boeing as it aims to demonstrate its capability to safely conduct human spaceflights, competing against SpaceX, which has successfully transported 50 people to space since 2020 through its Crew Dragon spacecraft. Boeing’s journey to this point has been fraught with hurdles, including a failed attempt to dock with the ISS in 2019 and another unmanned mission in 2022 that, while successful, encountered issues.

NASA maintains an optimistic outlook for the Starliner’s crewed test flight, acknowledging the learning opportunities that such first-time human missions present. The successful completion of this mission is critical for Boeing, as it would enable the company to start regular service to the ISS as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program. Since retiring its space shuttle program in 2011, NASA has relied on external partners like Russia and SpaceX for astronaut transportation to the ISS. However, collaboration with the Russian space agency has been significantly reduced following the escalation of geopolitical tensions due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.



Boeing's Starliner set for first crewed mission to ISS

After years of delay, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is ready to ferry two veteran astronauts on a final test mission. Powered by an Atlas rocket, the capsule will take off from Cape Canaveral on Monday evening and will dock with the International Space Station 26 hours later. If I was a young astronaut and I was thinking about going to the moon, I think I'd put my hand up and say, I want to fly Starliner. Boeing is trying to catch up to its rival SpaceX, which has brought 50 people to space on its Crew Dragon craft since 2020. Boeing, however, has trod a much more difficult road to human spaceflight. It first attempted to rendezvous with the ISS in 2019, but failed to complete its mission due to technical difficulties. Another attempted unmanned mission was successful in 2022, but also had issues. Nonetheless, NASA is optimistic about the current test. Do we expect it to go perfectly? This is the first human flight of the spacecraft. I'm sure we'll find things out. That's why we do this. Should the test flight be successful, it will pave the way for Boeing to begin regular service to the ISS for NASA's Commercial Crew program. NASA ended its space shuttle program in 2011 and has since relied on Russia and SpaceX for transportation. Coordination between Russian and American space agencies has stalled, as NASA has cut most ties since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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