Starliner’s two-person crew received a warm welcome to the International Space Station. The ship docked successfully on the second attempt. This was his first manned flight.
According to NASA, as well as developer Boeing, the rendezvous was carried out despite the loss of several guidance control jet engines. This was due in part to a helium leak. However, this reportedly will not affect the mission.
The CST-100 Starliner, carrying veteran astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, arrived at the orbital station after a nearly 27-hour flight. The Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Starliner docked with the ISS autonomously. It happened while both spacecraft were in orbit about 400 kilometers above the southern Indian Ocean at 1:34 p.m. Pacific time.
Boeing is implementing the Starliner project as part of its $4.2 billion contract with NASA. It is expected that in the future all American astronauts will be transported to the ISS on these ships.
