Boeing Starliner mission progressing toward launch

(United Launch Alliance contributed)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Everything continues to progress toward Saturday’s scheduled United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch carrying the first crewed Boeing Starliner spacecraft for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA and Boeing teams polled “go” to proceed Wednesday with plans to launch the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station at 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday.

During a Delta-Agency Flight Test Readiness Review at the Kennedy Space Center, leaders from NASA, Boeing, and ULA verified launch readiness, including all systems, facilities, and teams supporting the test flight.

A backup launch opportunity is available Sunday, with additional launch windows next Wednesday and Thursday, NASA said.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Kennedy on Tuesday, and will remain in quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building until Saturday’s launch. The crew had quarantined in Houston while mission teams worked to resolve issues with the rocket and spacecraft since scrubbing an initial launch attempt on May 6.

The mission is planned to lift off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  The forecast shows a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.  

Recent in Space

NASA is accelerating its Artemis campaign, adding a new mission in 2027 and committing to at least one lunar surface landing every year beginning in 2028. The update on Friday […]

A new report from Air & Space Forces Magazine says U.S. Space Command is offering “significant relocation bonuses” to civilian employees willing to move to Huntsville as the headquarters transitions […]