Boeing's Starliner Lifts Off for Uncrewed Orbital Test Flight
Historic Launch Marks Beginning of New Era in Space Exploration
Mission Overview
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday, June 5, 2023.
The uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission will demonstrate the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner and Atlas V rocket, from launch to docking with the International Space Station (ISS) and return to Earth.
The launch campaign began 45 days prior to liftoff with the stacking of the Atlas V rocket at Space Launch Complex 41.
The Starliner capsule launched at 10:52 a.m. ET on an Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Key Highlights
- First orbital test flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule.
- First flight with two astronauts on board.
- Important milestone for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
- Critical test to validate Starliner's systems and capabilities.
- Demonstration of end-to-end operations from launch to docking to return to Earth.
- Launch campaign began 45 days before liftoff.
- Liftoff time: 10:52 a.m. ET.
- Launch location: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
What's Next
- Starliner will rendezvous and dock with the ISS.
- The capsule will remain docked for several days, conducting tests and experiments.
- Starliner will then undock and return to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
- The mission will provide valuable data to Boeing and NASA for future crewed missions.
- Boeing's Starliner OFT-2 mission to launch Wednesday (CNN)
- Starliner OFT-2 Mission Overview (NASA)
- Boeing Starliner nears launch pad for OFT-2 test flight (Spaceflight Now)
Significance
The success of OFT-2 is crucial for the future of human spaceflight.
It will pave the way for crewed Starliner missions to the ISS, providing NASA with a second commercial option for transporting astronauts to and from the space station.
The Commercial Crew Program aims to reduce NASA's reliance on Russian spacecraft.
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