United Launch Alliance (ULA) maintained its unblemished mission success rate as it successfully launched a Boeing spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday evening.
ULA’s Atlas V rocket at 6:54 p.m. Thursday launched Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner from Space Launch Complex-41 (SLC) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which marked the company’s 150th launch to date.
Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs, expressed gratitude to the rocket manufacturer’s partners in enabling the launch to come to fruition.
“The integrated NASA, Boeing, and ULA team has worked diligently to ensure the highest level of safety for future astronaut crews,” said Wentz. “This launch is a critical step towards future human spaceflight onboard Atlas V and we look forward to the remainder of this mission. Thank you to all of our mission partners for the outstanding teamwork to deliver this spacecraft to orbit.”
According to ULA, the Atlas V rocket delivered the Boeing Starliner spacecraft to a 98-nautical mile (nmi) sub-orbital trajectory. Following separation from the Atlas V, the Starliner engines ignited to put the Starliner on its orbital path toward the ISS.
ULA’s next launch will be in support of the U.S. Space Force, planned for June 29, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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