Boeing’s Starliner Successfully Launches on Second Attempt: Human Space Flight Milestone Achieved

On June 5 (Hanoi time), Boeing’s Starliner successfully launched using an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida. The mission, known as the Crewed Flight Test (CFT), had its previous launch attempt canceled just minutes before liftoff on June 1.

The Starliner carried two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, on its first human space flight. After reaching orbit, the Starliner will separate from the Atlas V rocket and activate its own engines to journey to the International Space Station (ISS), expected to take about 25 hours. Various milestones during the launch included the removal of the dual solid rocket boosters at 9:57 p.m., the separation of the first stage of the Atlas V rocket at 10:01 p.m., and the successful separation of the Starliner from the rocket’s upper stage at 10:12 p.m., marking an important moment in the mission. About 30 minutes after launch, the Starliner ignited its engines to enter a stable low Earth orbit, positioning it to rendezvous with