Docking Recap: Boeing's Starliner has soft docked to the ISS

Docking Recap: Scroll down for live updates from the docking of the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station on June 6.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station on the afternoon of June 6 with its crew of two NASA astronauts after a roughly 26-hour trip from Cape Canaveral.

Starliner lifted off at 10:52 a.m. on Wednesday from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 41. This flight is the Crewed Flight Test (CFT), which when successfully completed, will certify the spacecraft to ferry NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station alongside SpaceX's Dragon.

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Onboard are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who are both former test pilots. Similar in nature to the SpaceX Demo-2 flight in 2020, which certified SpaceX's Dragon to ferry NASA crews, this flight will test all aspects of the spacecraft.

Starliner Crewed Flight Test Docking

Approximately 26-hours post liftoff, the Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony port of the International Space Station. According to NASA, docking was expected at 12:15 p.m. EDT Thursday, but missed that opportunity due to an issue with thrusters.

The docking was broadcast LIVE on NASA TV, on the agency's YouTube Channel, on the NASA website. NASA coverage began at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 6.

Countdown Timer

Starliner Crew enters the ISS

Update 3:45 p.m.: Butch and Suni are onboard the ISS, and being greeted by Crew-8.

Space Station and Starliner crew investigate window

Update 3:16 p.m.: "I was able to yell at Butch through the window," said astronaut Matt Dominick, as those onboard prepared to welcome the Starliner crew onto the ISS.

The astronauts had been investigating residue on the Starliner window, yet have since cleared the issue as nothing of concern.

Space Station crew prepares to welcome Starliner crew

Update 2:25 p.m.: NASA has stated that Williams and Wilmore will enter the space station at approximately 3:20 p.m. EDT.

Starliner docking complete!

Update 1:57 p.m.: On the NASA live stream, Wilmore said, "nice to be attached to the big city in the sky." He called it a "great place to be".

Starliner docks to the ISS

Update 1:34 p.m.: Starliner soft capture! The crew has made it to the space station!

According to NASA, docking will be complete within 15-30 minutes past soft capture. Soft capture is simply the initial contact of the spacecraft to the docking port.

Starliner GO for final approach

Update 1:31 p.m.: Houston just gave the command to the Starliner crew for final approach to the ISS. The spacecraft will dock under its own guidance, but the crew is monitoring.

Starliner ready to dock!

Update 1:28 p.m.: Butch Wilmore has just called down to Houston that he and Williams are "ready" for docking, according to the NASA live coverage.

NASA gives Starliner update

Update 1:26 p.m.: NASA has stated that five thrusters had malfunctioned on Starliner earlier. All but one have been recovered.

Starliner docking hold

Update 1:16 p.m.: Starliner is in a hold 10 meters out before docking to enable more sunlight to move into the area.

Starliner moves in

Update 1:09 p.m.: Starliner has passed into less than 30 meters from the ISS.

Starliner slows

Update 1:03 p.m.: Starliner has slowed to 5 cm/second and is 50 meters out.

Starliner moves in

Update 1:00 p.m.: Starliner is 63 meters out from the ISS. However, crews may issue another hold to align with the docking port.

Starliner continues to approach

Update 12:57 p.m.: Starliner has slowed to 10 cm/second as it continues to move towards the ISS.

The spacecraft has approached 80 meters from the ISS.

Starliner moves towards the ISS

Update 12:50 p.m.: Starliner moves into the "keep out sphere" which is 200 meters away from the ISS.

The ISS and Starliner are currently 261 miles above Earth.

Thruster update

Update 12:45 p.m.: Teams will inhibit the malfunctioning thruster in the service module, as Starliner continues to move towards docking. With multiple thrusters, NASA spoke on the redundancy of the spacecraft.

Starliner is approaching the ISS at 23 cm/second.

Starliner Crew Update

Update 12:36 p.m.: NASA has reported the Starliner crew have felt thrusters kick on during the hot firing test.

The crew is currenting waiting on the next docking window, which opens at 1:33 p.m. EDT.

The crew is moving into 200 meters from the ISS - holding there prior to docking.

Starliner teams give more update

Update 12:19 p.m.: Starliner is moving to 250 meters away from the ISS and out of the "keep out" sphere - which is a 200 meter radius around the ISS.

Starliner teams give update

Update 12:12 p.m.: Teams are currently working to get Starliner back into auto pilot mode. They will hold Starliner 250 meters out from the ISS until clear for docking.

Starliner looking at another docking window

Update 12:10 p.m.: Starliner will dock to the space station no earlier than 1:33 p.m. EDT, as the first docking window has passed.

Starliner will not dock at 12:15 p.m.

Update 12:00 p.m.: Two of the thrusters are still being worked. NASA has stated they will not dock at the ISS at 12:15 p.m. EDT. However, they still have much time in the window.

Starliner still waits on results of hot fire

Update 11:53 a.m.: Starliner is flying to 200 meters manually, yet still not clear to leave that hold period.

Starliner Crew Docking Update

Update 11:50 a.m.: NASA reports they may still dock at 12:15 p.m. EDT, even with the extended hold.

Starliner is now back in orbital nighttime, meaning they are on the side of the Earth where it is night.

Starliner Crew Manually Piloting

Update 11:47 a.m.: The crew has stated they are "good" with manual piloting, finishing the manual demo early.

Starliner thruster update

Update 11:44 a.m.: NASA reports that two thrusters were working correctly, but were out of censor value.

Teams are currently still troubleshooting the other two thrusters.

Starliner crew reports reactions from thrusters

Update 11:38 a.m.: The crew is manually flying the spacecraft. The crew reported reaction from the thruster hot fire test on the service module. All but one thrusted reacted.

Starliner hold continues

Update 11:32 a.m.: Teams are still troubleshooting the reaction control thruster (RCS) jets on Starliner.

The crew will conduct a hot fire test of the down thrusters.

Starliner Approach Corridor initiation burn (API) burn

Update 11:25 a.m. : Starliner is 260 meters away from the ISS, and about to go into a scheduled hold.

Starliner is lined up with the ISS

Update 11:15 a.m.: Starliner is aligned with the ISS, yet teams are troubleshooting a thruster issue.

Teams are conducting a hot firing test coming up. Following this, the crew will take manual control.

Starliner docking update

Update 11:05 a.m.: All continues to go well as Starliner approaches the International Space Station (ISS).

While Wilmore reported it difficult to see the ISS while in the night, Starliner and the ISS have entered sunlight and the ISS has caught view of the spacecraft.

Starliner is set to stay at the International Space Station for a minimum of eight days as the astronauts test the performance of the vehicle. The FLORIDA TODAY Space Team will continue to provide the latest throughout this mission.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Boeing's Starliner crew has arrived at the International Space Station