A pair of NASA test pilots launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Boeing’s Starliner capsule, bound for the International Space Station. The trip is expected to take 25 hours, with arrival at the Space Station on Thursday. The Starliner is meant to be fully autonomous, requiring manual control only for system checks. Boeing, alongside SpaceX, was hired by NASA in 2014 for astronaut transport. SpaceX launched astronauts successfully in 2020, while Boeing faced delays and technical issues with the Starliner. Boeing's flight is a crucial milestone for NASA’s reliance on the private sector for human spaceflight. After the flight, data will be reviewed to certify the Starliner, potentially alternating with SpaceX for ISS missions.

Boeing launches NASA astronauts for the first time in new Starliner | AP News

Boeing Starliner Carries NASA Astronauts to Orbit in ‘Milestone’ Flight - The New York Times 

Boeing Starliner launches for the first time carrying NASA astronauts to the ISS