Saturday, astronauts were launched on its new space capsule for the first time, following a delay for leak tests and rocket repairs.
Boeing Took Another Crack
The company’s Starliner spacecraft was scheduled to launch at lunchtime, carrying a pair of test pilots to the International Space Station for a weeklong visit.
The test drive should have occurred years ago. However, issues continued to pile up, most notably a leak that went undetected until the first crewed launch attempt in early May.
NASA wants a backup for SpaceX, which has been carrying astronauts for four years.
The lift is provided by United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, which launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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