Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is about to launch two astronauts into space for the first time — and you can watch it happen live right here.
At 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT) today (June 5), Boeing and the United Launch Alliance (ULA) will attempt to launch the aerospace company’s Starliner spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to the International Space Station (ISS), carrying a crew of two NASA astronauts: Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams. The astronauts will spend 25 hours aboard Starliner on their way to the ISS, becoming the first crew ever to ride the newly developed spacecraft into orbit, according to Live Science’s sister site Space.com.
Starliner has faced numerous delays on its way to this first crewed mission. The original launch date was scheduled for May 6 — however, it was scrubbed roughly two hours before liftoff due to an issue with a buzzing oxygen valve on the ULA Atlas V rocket meant to carry Starliner into space. The launch was rescheduled for June 1; however, this attempt was aborted minutes before liftoff due to a computer glitch in a ground launch sequencer, according to Space.com.
You can watch the latest launch attempt in the NASA live stream above. NASA will continue their coverage all through the day, until Starliner eventually docks at the ISS on Thursday (June 6). If the launch is successful, NASA will host a post-launch press conference beginning at 12:30 p.m. EDT (1430 GMT) featuring NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, among other experts on the team.
This will be Boeing’s second test flight to the ISS, and its third flight test overall, according to NASA. This final test flight will “validate the transportation system, including the launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, in-orbit operational capabilities, and return to Earth with astronauts aboard,” the space agency added.