CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing’s Starliner capsule lifted off Thursday evening from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, according to WFTV. The spacecraft, which has a dummy but no people on board, is on a test flight to the International Space Station, where it is expected to dock shortly after 7 p.m. EDT Friday, NASA said.
The launch came more than two years after software errors thwarted the capsule’s first test flight in December 2019, The Associated Press reported. Corroded valves stopped a second launch attempt last summer, according to the news agency.
See views from the Space Launch Complex-41 launch pad and spacecraft separation during today's #Starliner #OFT2 liftoff atop a @ulalaunch #AtlasV. Stay tuned for docking with @Space_Station on May 20. pic.twitter.com/Ztjs36IwQf
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) May 20, 2022
Skygazers took to social media to share photos of the launch with the hashtag #Starliner. Here are some of our favorites:
1. @mdcainjr, Instagram
2. @Kyle_M_Photo, Twitter
Some remote shots of Atlas V launching Starliner to the International space station. #ULA #AtlasV #Starliner
— Kyle Montgomery (@Kyle_M_Photo) May 20, 2022
For @NextHorizonsSF pic.twitter.com/tUPYeatORS
3. @GregScott_photo, Twitter
United Launch Alliance's #AtlasV successfully launched Boeing's #Starliner spacecraft from LC-41 @ CCSFS tonight. The rocket lifted on to the correct trajectory to begin the #OFT2 mission. Liftoff was picture perfect & at this point all systems are nominal. #NASA @torybruno pic.twitter.com/0BeMxE7J1E
— Greg Scott (@GregScott_photo) May 20, 2022
4. @earth.to.emerson, Instagram
5. @Zshauladventure, Twitter
From the pad as @ulalaunch carries #Starliner off Earth during #OFT2. #AtlasV pushing out about 1.6 million pounds of thrust here!
— Zachary Shaul Adventures (@Zshauladventure) May 20, 2022
📷: Me - @NextHorizonsSF pic.twitter.com/x85bwDZpQT
6. @theresacross_, Twitter
Starliner launched on NASA’s Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 #OFT2, 6:54 p.m. EDT from SLC-41 in Florida. After an orbital insertion burn 31 minutes later, the #Starliner spacecraft was on it’s way for docking with the @Space_Station.
— theresacross (@theresacross_) May 20, 2022
📸: me@SpaceflightIns pic.twitter.com/Uy33yj07Yt
7. @_mgde_, Twitter
Milestone achieved.
— Max Evans (@_mgde_) May 19, 2022
Once those SRB’s ignite, there’s no turning back. Starliner flies into wild (hazy) blue yonder.
She’s coming for you, @Space_Station! #ULA #AtlasV #Boeing #Starliner pic.twitter.com/fhQ0Fhs03w
8. @the_space_nut, Twitter
#Starliner and #AtlasV blasts off of SLC-41 as they make their 15 minute journey to space for the #OFT2 mission.
— An Tran (@the_space_nut) May 20, 2022
📸: Me for @WeAreSpaceScout pic.twitter.com/iG69VfOMXY
9. @NASAHQphoto, Twitter
Check out images captured by our remote cameras of the launch of @BoeingSpace's #Starliner spacecraft on a @ulalaunch Atlas V rocket on the Orbital Flight Test-2 mission. 🚀📷➡️ https://t.co/sulsB282OS pic.twitter.com/L3VDoKhFc9
— NASA HQ PHOTO (@nasahqphoto) May 20, 2022
10. @launchphoto, Instagram
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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