Successful launch for Boeing Starliner after third attempt to launch to ISS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – NASA officials launched a Boeing OFT-2 test Thursday evening.

The launch was said to be the equivalent to SpaceX’s Demo-1 mission which was a crewless test of the vehicle system.

This flight test was intended to show that Starliner can successfully operate in a safe manner to launch, rendezvous, dock, undock then head back to earth without any major issues. This is the critical step before its next major one which would be to test the vehicle with people on board.

The Starliner lifted off with United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:54 p.m. Central.