![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCNY5DBTCZE3PLQGHENGOUNPZA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=946a524e4bef1951b9fce73bf9c14ce67322e8e57583cdb027dbf3ceeda49c84&width=400&height=225)
This was the company’s second flight test, after the first one in 2019 failed to dock with the orbiting laboratory due to software glitches. Photo: Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIS6L2J4M2E7UHNJ55FDYQMWVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f95c9f7aab9386b60c8c4a1079f58395a5ef24fde861536f3855faecd4ec4f02&width=400&height=225)
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule lands at the White Sands Space Harbour in New Mexico on May 25, 2020. EPA / Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6LEFBZIBFBE5LMXZUIN7XL5XMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9cc1e5da70b234b8f2ffd5c23068c5b272a5f807e40e88b7b50e19896d0988a0&width=400&height=225)
Boeing completed a key test of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for Nasa in 2020, after it successfully docked with the International Space Station and landed back on Earth safely. Photo: NASA via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4PJVMVQXBCUSTVRAXOAWSXCDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b463d8ea5c7a73c0f868ada7d59da1af48feab513950f36b8770abb0cd5d1bb2&width=400&height=225)
Boeing's Starliner capsule docks with the International Space Station on May 20, 2022. AFP PHOTO / NASA TV
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KXIVSSCF24PNEYPUJ2YCRZRPAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=20120e374a2a79708b5ab38d5d5d02db81d733e7bc58b0e658e0bd035a1ae71e&width=400&height=225)
Boeing’s Starliner capsule landed back on Earth after a successful docking with the International Space Station. Photo: NASA via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RV2BAFNST77E7WZYSX6XZ5C34Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=d806b0049668152e9aa3c3af3bee2dcd832c0816da76a226b336ca629f7749f2&width=400&height=225)
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo: AFP / Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UUEVJUJEKMP5BT32IMLCF2OQBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0929cd49908edd66e6e44f734a7bc34f00934aa99162c13de50fdb3232ca166&width=400&height=225)
With this recent test, it means Boeing could be launching astronauts for Nasa by end of this year. The company is contracted by the US space agency to send its astronauts to the space station, in a deal similar to Nasa’s arrangement with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Photo: AFP / Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCNY5DBTCZE3PLQGHENGOUNPZA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=946a524e4bef1951b9fce73bf9c14ce67322e8e57583cdb027dbf3ceeda49c84&width=400&height=225)
This was the company’s second flight test, after the first one in 2019 failed to dock with the orbiting laboratory due to software glitches. Photo: Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIS6L2J4M2E7UHNJ55FDYQMWVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f95c9f7aab9386b60c8c4a1079f58395a5ef24fde861536f3855faecd4ec4f02&width=400&height=225)
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule lands at the White Sands Space Harbour in New Mexico on May 25, 2020. EPA / Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6LEFBZIBFBE5LMXZUIN7XL5XMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9cc1e5da70b234b8f2ffd5c23068c5b272a5f807e40e88b7b50e19896d0988a0&width=400&height=225)
Boeing completed a key test of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for Nasa in 2020, after it successfully docked with the International Space Station and landed back on Earth safely. Photo: NASA via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4PJVMVQXBCUSTVRAXOAWSXCDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=b463d8ea5c7a73c0f868ada7d59da1af48feab513950f36b8770abb0cd5d1bb2&width=400&height=225)
Boeing's Starliner capsule docks with the International Space Station on May 20, 2022. AFP PHOTO / NASA TV
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KXIVSSCF24PNEYPUJ2YCRZRPAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=20120e374a2a79708b5ab38d5d5d02db81d733e7bc58b0e658e0bd035a1ae71e&width=400&height=225)
Boeing’s Starliner capsule landed back on Earth after a successful docking with the International Space Station. Photo: NASA via AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RV2BAFNST77E7WZYSX6XZ5C34Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=d806b0049668152e9aa3c3af3bee2dcd832c0816da76a226b336ca629f7749f2&width=400&height=225)
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo: AFP / Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UUEVJUJEKMP5BT32IMLCF2OQBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0929cd49908edd66e6e44f734a7bc34f00934aa99162c13de50fdb3232ca166&width=400&height=225)
With this recent test, it means Boeing could be launching astronauts for Nasa by end of this year. The company is contracted by the US space agency to send its astronauts to the space station, in a deal similar to Nasa’s arrangement with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Photo: AFP / Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCNY5DBTCZE3PLQGHENGOUNPZA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=946a524e4bef1951b9fce73bf9c14ce67322e8e57583cdb027dbf3ceeda49c84&width=400&height=225)
This was the company’s second flight test, after the first one in 2019 failed to dock with the orbiting laboratory due to software glitches. Photo: Nasa
What is the Boeing Starliner space capsule and when will it launch astronauts?
The craft is meant to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
11 March, 2024
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