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The headline’s “today” referred to a June 2024 launch attempt, not a current event. NASA’s first crewed Boeing Starliner flight successfully lifted off on June 5, 2024, at 10:52 a.m. EDT, carrying astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams. The spacecraft launched from Space Launch Complex 41 in Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V and later docked with the International Space Station.
You can watch official mission video and archived coverage through NASA+, NASA Television, NASA’s live-video hub, the NASA app, and NASA’s YouTube channel.
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Launch status at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Status | Successfully launched; this is now an archived mission |
| Date and time | Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 10:52 a.m. EDT |
| Spacecraft | Boeing CST-100 Starliner |
| Rocket | United Launch Alliance Atlas V |
| Launch site | Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida |
| Crew | NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams |
The original target was Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 12:25 p.m. EDT. That attempt was halted by a ground-system power-distribution problem. NASA and Boeing replaced and tested the affected equipment before retargeting the flight for June 5. The June 1 date should therefore not be presented as the successful launch.
Where to watch the official replay
- NASA+ — NASA’s free streaming service and mission archive.
- NASA Television — continuous mission programming and briefings.
- NASA’s live-video hub — official streams and archived events.
- NASA app — NASA video and mission updates on mobile devices.
- NASA on YouTube — launch, docking, and briefing recordings.
For the June 5 launch webcast, NASA coverage began at 6:45 a.m. EDT, hours before the planned 10:52 a.m. liftoff. Coverage start and launch time were separate milestones. Even during a live countdown, times could change because of weather, technical work, or other real-time operations.
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What the Boeing Crew Flight Test was testing
Known as NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT), this was an end-to-end demonstration rather than a routine astronaut-rotation mission. The flight tested:
- Starliner’s launch and orbital-insertion performance;
- the Atlas V, launch pad, and ground-support systems;
- in-orbit maneuvering and piloting;
- environmental-control and crew-support systems;
- rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station;
- crew operations while docked; and
- return-to-Earth procedures needed for NASA certification.
Boeing developed and operates Starliner under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, with NASA as the customer and mission authority. CFT was the major crewed demonstration needed before considering Starliner for regular ISS crew-rotation flights. It was not itself an operational rotation mission.
Who flew on Starliner?
Barry “Butch” Wilmore served as commander and Suni Williams as pilot. Both are NASA astronauts. They were the first people to fly aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
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- June 5, 2024, 10:52 a.m. EDT: Starliner launched on an Atlas V from SLC-41 and reached orbit with Wilmore and Williams aboard. NASA described it as the first crewed Starliner flight and the first crewed launch of an Atlas V.
- June 6, 2024, 1:34 p.m. EDT: Starliner completed autonomous docking with the International Space Station. A prelaunch schedule had listed approximately 12:15 p.m. EDT, but the actual docking occurred later.
- June 6, 2024, 3:45 p.m. EDT: The astronauts entered the station.
During the approach, NASA reported helium leaks and closed the relevant manifolds before later reopening them. That report should be understood as part of the flight’s technical evaluation, not as evidence that the launch itself was a catastrophic failure.
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Why the flight mattered
Starliner’s crewed test expanded NASA’s Commercial Crew capability beyond SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. A second U.S. spacecraft gives NASA another potential transportation system for astronauts and helps provide resilience for ISS operations. The mission’s successful launch and docking were important milestones, but certification depends on evaluating the complete test flight and resolving any issues identified during it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Planned versus actual times
Launch coverage and countdown schedules are forecasts, not guarantees. The June 1 attempt demonstrated how a ground-system issue can stop a countdown, while the difference between the planned and actual June 6 docking times shows why retrospective coverage should use NASA’s confirmed results. For any future launch article, use an absolute date and label whether a time is planned or actual.
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Official mission information
NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test mission page provides the program overview. NASA’s launch report is available in its official news release, with separate reports covering docking and station entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Boeing Starliner launch with astronauts?
Yes. NASA’s first crewed Starliner flight launched on June 5, 2024, carrying Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
Where can I watch the Starliner launch replay?
Use NASA+, NASA Television, NASA’s live-video hub, the NASA app, or NASA’s official YouTube channel.
Was the June 1, 2024 launch successful?
No. The June 1 attempt was halted by a ground-system power-distribution issue. The successful launch occurred on June 5.
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