After years of delays and setbacks, Boeing is finally ready to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). This will be the first manned flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule, with a pair of NASA pilots on board to test the spacecraft and spend a week at the space station.

NASA had to turn to U.S. companies for astronaut transportation after retiring the space shuttles. Elon Musk's SpaceX has already completed nine trips for NASA since 2020, while Boeing has only conducted two unoccupied test flights.

Boeing program manager Mark Nappi acknowledges the delays in Starliner's development, stating, "There's no doubt about that, but we're here now." The long-awaited astronaut demo is scheduled for liftoff on Monday night.

Assuming the test goes well, NASA will alternate between Boeing and SpaceX for future astronaut transportation to and from the ISS. The Starliner capsule, painted in white with black and blue trim, stands at approximately 10 feet tall and 15 feet in diameter. It has the capacity to accommodate up to seven people, although NASA crews usually consist of four members.

Boeing faced significant challenges during the earlier Starliner test flights. The 2019 launch encountered severe software issues, resulting in a delayed arrival at the ISS during the second attempt in 2022. In addition, last summer, concerns arose regarding the parachutes and flammable tape, which had to be addressed and rectified.

The crew for this pivotal launch consists of veteran NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Both retired Navy captains, they previously spent months aboard the space station. The duo joined the test flight after the original crew opted out due to the mounting delays.

Wilmore, aged 61, is a former combat pilot from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Williams, aged 58, is a helicopter pilot hailing from Needham, Massachusetts. They have been actively involved in the development of the Starliner capsule and express confidence in its readiness for this mission.

"We're not putting our heads in the sand," Williams stated to The Associated Press. "Sure, Boeing has had its problems. But we are the QA (quality assurance). Our eyes are on the spacecraft."

With the launch just around the corner, all eyes are on Boeing as they aim to successfully complete their first manned mission to the ISS with the Starliner capsule. The outcome of this test flight will determine the future involvement of Boeing in NASA's astronaut transportation efforts.