May 20, 2022
Boeing's new Starliner capsule was launched into orbit this week on a repeat test flight without astronauts.
Image Source: Agencies
The CST-100 Starliner capsule blasted off from the Cape Canaveral US Space Force Station in Florida.
Image Source: Agencies
It was atop an Atlas V rocket furnished by the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA).
Image Source: Agencies
The capsule is to arrive and dock with the International Space Station on Friday after a 24-hour journey.
Image Source: Agencies
The Boeing craft is to spend about five days attached to the ISS before undocking and flying back to Earth.
Image Source: Agencies
In a previous test flight in 2019 a software glitch foiled the spacecraft's ability to reach the space station.
Image Source: Agencies
If the present Boeing mission is successful, it will give NASA an effective backup option for trips to the ISS.
Image Source: Agencies
NASA now has to rely solely on the Falcon 9 rockets and Crew Dragon capsules from Elon Musk's company SpaceX.
Image Source: Agencies
Previously the only other option for reaching the orbital lab was by hitching rides aboard Russian Soyuz craft.
Image Source: Agencies
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