Helium Leaks and Thruster Fails: Boeing Starliner’s High-Stakes Docking Drama

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard the Starliner spacecraft docked successfully at the ISS after overcoming challenges like helium leaks and thruster failures. The flight included manual piloting demonstrations and strategic management of spacecraft systems to ensure a successful docking.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS) at 1:34 p.m. EDT. Starliner’s hatch opening began at about 3:20 p.m., and the pair of astronauts entered the ISS at 3:45 p.m. Starliner launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 10:52 a.m., June 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.