Boeing Starliner launches for 1st time, carrying NASA astronauts to International Space Station

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Boeing Starliner launched for the first time on Wednesday, carrying astronauts of the US space agency NASA to the International Space Station (ISS).

The launch successfully took place at the scheduled time of 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452GMT) from Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, after two launches were called off Saturday and early May.

Boeing's Starliner capsule is carried by Atlas V rocket of aerospace manufacturer United Launch Alliance, which is a joint venture of Boeing Defense, Space & Security and Lockheed Martin Space formed in December 2006.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are on board the Starline, which witnessed years of setbacks and delays due to technical issues.