Boeing Space launched its Starliner spaceship from Florida on May 19 using a ULA Atlas V rocket.
The launch took place as planned. The time is 3:54 p.m. The second attempt at flying the Starliner to the International Space Station was unsuccessful in December.
Liftoff!
Go #AtlasV! Go Centaur! Go #Starliner! pic.twitter.com/SxXI7tfBwh
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 19, 2022
Mission Control confirmed that the uncrewed Starliner had successfully separated from the ULA booster and was flying in space on its own.
Confirmation came through that the Starliner had done its injection burn.
Thank you for the incredible boost to orbit, @ulalaunch!
Go Atlas! Go Centaur! Go Starliner! https://t.co/cfTfxdSYBs
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 19, 2022
The Starliner will dock with the space station on Friday, where it will deliver supplies and equipment to astronauts. The spaceship will stay at the International Space Station for between five and ten days before landing in New Mexico.
The flight test, which includes orbital maneuvering, International Space Station rendezvous, docking, undocking, and landing operations, will verify all of the critical systems and capabilities ahead of Boeing's first flight carrying astronauts to and from the ISS.
If the mission is a success, the crewed test flight will send the Starliner on the same route. The hope is that it will happen within the next year.
A successful crewed mission will pave the way for NASA to use the craft for future flights to and from the space station. The Crew Dragon capsule, which has been conducting regular astronauts flights since 2020, would be another transportation option for NASA.
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