How to Watch the Boeing Starliner Launch
After a period marred by calamities and setbacks, Boeing is poised to embark on a mission that promises to vault it to new heights. Today marks a seminal moment in aerospace: the inaugural crewed journey of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, culminating nearly a decade of meticulous planning and formidable challenges.
This evening's launch, a collaboration between Boeing and NASA, is set to occur at 10:34 PM EDT. For those eager to witness this historic event, several viewing options are available. The launch will be live-streamed on NASA’s official website and its YouTube channel, as well as on NASA+, the agency's premium streaming service. For mobile users, the event can also be accessed via the NASA app, with the broadcast commencing at 6:30 PM Eastern.
Boeing's Starliner is entering the arena as the second commercial spacecraft, following SpaceX, to ferry humans to the cosmos under NASA's partnership. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are the designated crew for this mission, tasked with a brief sojourn to the International Space Station. Their mission will last approximately a week, after which they will return to Earth aboard the same vessel, making their descent under parachutes.
Success in this endeavor would not only mark a significant technological achievement but also provide a much-needed boost to Boeing’s reputation. Recent years have seen the aviation giant grappling with significant safety concerns—most notably, the tragic crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019, which have overshadowed its engineering prowess. A triumphant Starliner mission might well herald a fresh chapter for Boeing, one centered on the safer and more exhilarating prospects of space travel.
