Here's a rewritten version of the content to make it plagiarism-free and unique:
Boeing is on the verge of launching astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA after grappling with years of delays and challenges.
This mission marks the inaugural crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule, which will carry a pair of NASA pilots to test the spacecraft during a weeklong visit to the ISS. Following the retirement of the space shuttles, NASA turned to U.S. companies for astronaut transportation, with Elon Musk's SpaceX completing nine missions for NASA since 2020, compared to Boeing's two uncrewed test flights.
Boeing's program manager, Mark Nappi, acknowledged the desire for Starliner to be further along in its development but expressed confidence in the current progress: “There’s no doubt about that, but we’re here now.”
The highly anticipated astronaut demonstration is scheduled for liftoff on Monday night, with NASA planning to alternate between Boeing and SpaceX for future astronaut transportation to and from the ISS.
The Starliner capsule, white with black and blue trim, stands approximately 10 feet (3 meters) tall and 15 feet (4.5 meters) in diameter. It can accommodate up to seven people, although NASA crews typically consist of four members. The name "Starliner" was chosen almost a decade ago, drawing inspiration from Boeing’s Stratoliner and Dreamliner aircraft. The previous two Starliner test flights were unmanned, with the first in 2019 encountering severe software issues, and the second in 2022 facing problems with parachutes and tape.
Veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both retired Navy captains, will pilot the test flight. They joined the mission after the original crew stepped down due to delays. Wilmore, 61, is a former combat pilot from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, while Williams, 58, is a helicopter pilot from Needham, Massachusetts. The astronauts have been involved in Starliner’s development and assert that the spacecraft is ready for crewed missions.
Starliner will launch on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the first time astronauts will ride an Atlas rocket since NASA’s Project Mercury. The capsule is expected to reach the space station in approximately 26 hours. Starliner will remain docked for eight days for checkouts before landing in New Mexico or elsewhere in the American West.
Boeing received over $4 billion from NASA to develop the Starliner, while SpaceX received $2.6 billion. Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon capsules are both designed to be autonomous and reusable. Unlike Dragon, Starliner features traditional hand controls alongside touchscreens and is more akin to NASA’s Orion capsules for moon missions. Starliner lands on the ground with cushioning airbags, while Dragon splashes down in the sea.
Boeing is committed to six Starliner trips for NASA after this mission, covering the station’s operations until its planned end in 2030. Boeing has hinted at offering a fifth seat to private clients. SpaceX also sells seats to individuals and countries eager to send their citizens to the station. Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser mini shuttle is set to deliver cargo to the station before accepting passengers later this year or next.