Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch Date and Time Announced

May 6, 2024 Launch Targeted for Critical Test Flight

Astronauts to Ride Boeing's Starliner Capsule on Mission to ISS

The highly anticipated launch of Boeing's first-ever Starliner astronaut mission for NASA is now targeted for May 6, 2024. This critical test flight will be the culmination of years of development and testing to demonstrate the capsule's readiness to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS).

The Starliner capsule, designed to transport up to four astronauts, will launch atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission, known as the Crew Flight Test (CFT), will involve a two-day rendezvous and docking with the ISS, followed by a return to Earth and splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.

This launch marks a significant milestone for Boeing and NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe and reliable transportation services to and from the ISS for astronauts. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is expected to join SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule as the primary means of astronaut transport, ensuring continued access to the ISS and enabling groundbreaking scientific research and exploration.