Starliner's Challenging Launch

The Starliner spacecraft's first manned journey to the International Space Station (ISS) faced significant challenges despite ideal launch conditions. Initial software issues and design malfunctions delayed its launch for seven years, highlighting the complexities of space exploration. Although the spacecraft achieved orbit successfully, it experienced a helium leak before takeoff and faced thruster malfunctions during docking, requiring astronauts to manually control the capsule. As a result, the crew, consisting of veteran astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, found themselves unexpectedly extended on the ISS beyond their planned eight-day mission.