Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is set to make history on May 6

It prepares for its first crewed mission, carrying astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS).

Following a successful critical flight test review on Thursday, NASA and Boeing confirmed that the capsule is ready for launch, with the astronauts scheduled to board Starliner on the evening of May 6. They will travel to the ISS on United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

Upon arrival at the ISS about 24 hours later, Wilmore and Williams will spend approximately a week aboard the station before returning to Earth using the Starliner capsule. The spacecraft will remain docked with the ISS during their stay, and upon reentry, five parachutes will slow Starliner down for a soft landing in the western United States.

This mission will mark Starliner's second flight to the ISS, following the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 in May 2022. Additional launch opportunities are available on May 7, 10, and 11 if the May 6 date is not met.