Boeing’s Starliner Mission Extended
Boeing’s Starliner capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station on June 6, 2024. The capsule was carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams for the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission. Originally planned for a week-long stay, NASA announced that the mission will be extended until June 18 to allow for a spacewalk on June 13.
This marks the third spaceflight for the Starliner capsule, following previous uncrewed test flights in 2019 and 2022. Despite encountering some glitches during the mission, including helium leaks and thruster issues, the mission team has successfully addressed these challenges.
If the extended mission goes smoothly, Boeing’s Starliner will be certified for six-month astronaut missions to and from the ISS, joining SpaceX’s Dragon capsule in providing this service for NASA. Both companies were awarded contracts through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program in 2014.
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Biography:
Michael Wall is a Senior Space Writer at Space.com, specializing in exoplanets, spaceflight, and military space. With a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology and a background in herpetology and wildlife biology, Michael has been part of the Space.com team since 2010. Follow Michael on Twitter for his latest projects and updates.