In a significant milestone for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, the United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This marks the first launch with astronauts onboard the Boeing spacecraft and ULA Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station (ISS).

The NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, embarked on their journey at 10:52 a.m. EDT on June 5, 2024. Their mission, known as the Boeing Crew Flight Test, aims to validate the entire Starliner system and its capabilities for future missions to the space station.

With this historic launch, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his excitement, stating, "Two bold NASA astronauts are well on their way on this historic first test flight of a brand-new spacecraft. Boeing's Starliner marks a new chapter of American exploration."

The Crew Flight Test will not only validate the transportation system, launch pad, rocket, and spacecraft but also test in-orbit operations and the safe return to Earth with astronauts aboard. This critical step brings NASA closer to certifying the Starliner for rotational missions to the ISS.

Boeing's Commercial Crew Program Vice President and Program Manager, Mark Nappi, affirmed the successful progress of the mission, saying, "With Starliner's launch, separation from the rocket, and arrival on orbit, Boeing's Crew Flight Test is right on track."

Throughout the flight, Boeing will monitor the spacecraft's maneuvers from its mission control center in Houston, while NASA teams will oversee space station operations from the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The Starliner spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously dock with the forward-facing port of the ISS's Harmony module at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 6. It will remain at the orbital laboratory for about a week.

Once onboard the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will conduct a series of tests to ensure the spacecraft's systems are functioning as intended. This includes verifying the environmental control system, displays and control system, and maneuvering the thrusters.

Upon their safe arrival at the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will join the Expedition 71 crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko.

The mission coverage of Starliner's flight will be broadcasted on NASA Television channels, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency's website. The docking process is expected to be covered extensively on Thursday, June 6, starting at 9:30 a.m. EDT on NASA+.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager, Steve Stich, emphasized the significance of this moment, stating, "For many of us, this is a career-defining moment, bringing on a new crew transportation capability for our agency and our nation."

As the test flight progresses, NASA and its partners at Boeing and ULA remain focused on ensuring the success of the mission and the safe return of the astronauts to Earth at the conclusion of the tests. This mission paves the way for future crewed missions, advancing the frontiers of human space exploration.