Starliner Takes a Big Step: Moving to Launchpad for First Crewed Mission

Boeing’s Starliner space capsule is prepped for its big launch. On April 16th, it was carefully moved to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral.

This is a big deal because it will be the first time a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket will carry people into space. (Atlas rockets did carry astronauts in the 1960s, but this is a different model.)

This launch is a test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). If all goes well, it will be the last step before Starliner can start carrying astronauts on regular missions to the ISS, just like SpaceX has been doing since 2020.

Starliner getting ready for its first crewed mission (Credits: SpaceNews)

Two veteran astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, even got to see their spaceship take a ride to the launchpad! Liftoff is targeted for May 6th at 10:34 pm EDT. The astronauts will spend up to two weeks at the space station before returning to Earth.

By Annie Linardos

I'm a journalist student and completed my masters in Journalism and Mass Communication. With a strong track record as an intern at Mathrubhumi News and The New Indian Express as a reporter and content writer, I'm creative, motivated, and have a keen eye for the truth and attempting to use the expertise and talents to contribute to the emerging field of journalism. I have also been working as a freelance writer and have the capability of producing interesting and bold articles.

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