“It’s a test flight.” The spacecraft created by Boeing will be launched into space for the first time with astronauts on board

After years of delays and setbacks, Boeing is set to send two astronauts to the International Space Station aboard its Starliner spacecraft, NBC reports.

The capsule is scheduled to take off on Tuesday morning, at 05:34 Romanian time, with an Atlas V rocket, from Florida. Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams will pilot the Starliner on its first manned flight. It’s a crucial test before NASA can authorize Boeing to conduct routine flights to and from the space station.

The stakes are high: It will be the first manned spacecraft launch and comes after years of delays, technical problems and significant budget overruns. If successful, the flight will allow Boeing to challenge the dominance of SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company, which currently carries NASA astronauts to the ISS.

Both companies’ spacecraft were developed under a NASA program that was created after its space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011.

Wilmore said that safety is paramount and that previous attempts to launch the Starliner capsule — both crewed and unmanned — have been delayed because the capsule simply wasn’t ready yet.

“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think it’s absolutely safe now,” Wilmore said last week.

However, there are inherent risks with any new spacecraft or rocket.

“Do we expect it to go perfectly? This is the first manned flight of the spacecraft. I’m sure we’ll learn new things. That’s why we do this. This is a test flight,” said the astronaut.

Publisher: MB

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