Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Boeing's Starliner capsule successfully lifted off on Wednesday (June 5) as it ferries two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. It was the third attempt to launch after two previous tries were called off minutes before launch.
The crew is expected to begin docking with the space station after about 24 hours orbiting the Earth.
The capsule is crewed by NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams. Wilmore, who is commander of the mission, has logged 178 days in space. In 2009, he piloted the space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station and then returned to space in 2014 as a member of the space station's Expedition 41 crew.
Williams will pilot the ship after spending 322 days in space on two missions aboard the International Space Station.
The pair will be conducting several tests of the equipment during their maiden voyage on the Starliner.
"The first test is to demonstrate performance of crew equipment from prelaunch through ascent, including suit and seat performance. During approach, rendezvous, and docking with the station, the Starliner team will assess spacecraft thruster performance for manual abort scenarios, conduct communication checkouts, test manual and automated navigation, and evaluate life support systems," NASA said.
Wilmore and Williams will spend about a week aboard the space station before returning to Earth.