After Delays, Boeing Launches Astronauts into Orbit
2024-06-06
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1Boeing launched astronauts into space with its delayed Starliner spacecraft for the first time Wednesday.
2The launch marked the company's entry into competition with SpaceX to provide service for the American space agency NASA.
3NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams lifted off in the Starliner spacecraft for the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
4It was powered by an Atlas V rocket from the United Launch Alliance of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
5Boeing designed Starliner to fly without human assistance.
6But the astronauts can take control of the spacecraft if necessary.
7The test flight calls for Wilmore and Williams to take control of the vehicle on the way to the space station.
8The trip to the ISS is expected to last 25 hours, with arrival on Thursday.
9The two astronauts will spend just one week at the orbiting laboratory before heading back to Earth to land in the western United States on June 14.
10Wilmore and Williams are former Navy pilots and long-time astronauts.
11The two have spent a combined 500 days in space over two ISS missions each.
12Both said repeatedly before the launch that they had full confidence in Boeing for this flight after so many delays.
13The launch came two years after Starliner completed its first test flight to the ISS without astronauts on board.
14Last-minute problems had delayed the Starliner's first two launch attempts with humans.
15NASA halted a planned May 6 launch two hours before liftoff because of a problem with a rocket.
16Another attempt last Saturday was halted less than four minutes before liftoff because of a problem with a launchpad computer.
17"I know it's been a long road to get here," NASA's commercial crew program leader Steve Stich said before the weekend delay.
18Boeing and SpaceX are both paid to carry NASA's astronauts to and from the space station.
19The space agency wanted two competing U.S. companies after ending the space shuttle program.
20In 2020, SpaceX became the first private business to launch astronauts into orbit.
21Only three countries, Russia, the U.S., and China have launched humans into space using their own systems.
22Since then, SpaceX has taken nine crews to the space station for NASA and three private groups for a Houston company.
23If the Starliner mission goes well, NASA will use both SpaceX and Boeing for flights, beginning next year.
24I'm Caty Weaver.
1Boeing launched astronauts into space with its delayed Starliner spacecraft for the first time Wednesday. 2The launch marked the company's entry into competition with SpaceX to provide service for the American space agency NASA. 3NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams lifted off in the Starliner spacecraft for the International Space Station (ISS) from Cape Canaveral in Florida. It was powered by an Atlas V rocket from the United Launch Alliance of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. 4Boeing designed Starliner to fly without human assistance. But the astronauts can take control of the spacecraft if necessary. The test flight calls for Wilmore and Williams to take control of the vehicle on the way to the space station. The trip to the ISS is expected to last 25 hours, with arrival on Thursday. The two astronauts will spend just one week at the orbiting laboratory before heading back to Earth to land in the western United States on June 14. 5Wilmore and Williams are former Navy pilots and long-time astronauts. The two have spent a combined 500 days in space over two ISS missions each. Both said repeatedly before the launch that they had full confidence in Boeing for this flight after so many delays. 6The launch came two years after Starliner completed its first test flight to the ISS without astronauts on board. Last-minute problems had delayed the Starliner's first two launch attempts with humans. 7NASA halted a planned May 6 launch two hours before liftoff because of a problem with a rocket. Another attempt last Saturday was halted less than four minutes before liftoff because of a problem with a launchpad computer. 8"I know it's been a long road to get here," NASA's commercial crew program leader Steve Stich said before the weekend delay. 9Boeing and SpaceX are both paid to carry NASA's astronauts to and from the space station. The space agency wanted two competing U.S. companies after ending the space shuttle program. 10In 2020, SpaceX became the first private business to launch astronauts into orbit. Only three countries, Russia, the U.S., and China have launched humans into space using their own systems. Since then, SpaceX has taken nine crews to the space station for NASA and three private groups for a Houston company. 11If the Starliner mission goes well, NASA will use both SpaceX and Boeing for flights, beginning next year. 12I'm Caty Weaver. 13Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English from Associated Press and Reuters sources. 14_____________________________________________ 15Words in This Story 16confidence -n. a feeling of being able to do something 17on board -adj. to be on a vehicle such as a ship, airplane or spacecraft 18commercial -adj. related to business activity carried out for a profit 19We want to hear from you. 20Our comment policy is here.