UPSC Target

UPSC GS PAPER l ( 16 JUNE 2024)

Current affairs for June 10, 2024, for the UPSC exam -

- NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams successfully docked Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).
- The astronauts spent about 26 hours in space before docking and will spend about a week on the ISS conducting tests and scientific experiments.
- Boeing's Starliner spacecraft launched on Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on an Atlas V rocket.
- The crew flight test is the first launch with astronauts of the Boeing spacecraft and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
- The test mission aims to validate the transportation system, launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, in-orbit operations capabilities, and return to Earth with astronauts aboard as the agency prepares to certify Starliner for rotational missions to the space station.
- Starliner previously flew two uncrewed orbital flights, including a test to and from the space station, along with a pad abort demonstration.
- The spacecraft experienced multiple helium leaks and thruster problems during the mission, but the issues were resolved, and the spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS.
- This marks a significant milestone for Boeing's astronaut taxi program and the first time a Starliner spacecraft has docked with the ISS.