Fate of Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft a mystery following launch to orbit

An Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, just after 6:36 AM. | (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Update December 20th, 7:45AM ET: Boeing’s Starliner capsule successfully took off on top of its Atlas V rocket this morning at 6:36AM ET, however it’s unclear what the status of the capsule is at the moment. The Starliner was supposed to ignite its own thrusters after separating from the rocket, in order to put itself into orbit. That ignition did not seem to occur as expected, and the Starliner had a bad insertion into orbit. Boeing is trying to figure out how to move forward, but the company says the spacecraft is stable and its batteries are charged. The broadcast of the launch ended without additional information.

Starliner has an off-nominal insertion, but we have spacecraft control. The guidance and control team is assessing…

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