NASA's Spacecraft Lineup Featuring Astronauts Expands: A Look at the Preceding Six Spacecraft, Including Boeing's Starliner

In the realm of human space exploration, history was made on June 6th as Boeing's Starliner became the seventh spacecraft to transport NASA astronauts into space. This milestone continues the legacy of innovation and pushes the boundaries of what is possible.

Before Starliner, the only privately developed spacecraft to have carried NASA astronauts to space were SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsules. SpaceX began flying NASA astronauts to the International Space Station starting in 2020, marking a significant step under the Commercial Crew Program. Boeing's Starliner is the second spacecraft developed by a private company in collaboration with NASA, following SpaceX's efforts.

The first privately-owned spacecraft, Crew Dragon, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has the capacity to carry up to seven astronauts to the International Space Station. It followed in the footsteps of Gemini, the first spacecraft to achieve the then-greatest distance between Earth and space with a human on board, which was four years after NASA's first foray into space with the Mercury project.

The Mercury project, NASA's first to send an astronaut into space, was executed by Alan Shepard. The project aimed to observe human body behavior during suborbital flights. Four years after Mercury came Gemini, which paved the way for the Apollo project, the first mission to reach the Moon and the names Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin Jr. becoming the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface.

The Space Shuttle program, operated by NASA, marked a significant era in manned space travel, lasting for at least 30 years and completing around 135 missions. However, the Space Shuttle is not mentioned as having transported astronauts into space.

The still-functional Soyuz spacecraft, manufactured in Russia, represents a key point in history, slightly easing the rivalry between Russia and the United States. Despite its significance, the Soyuz spacecraft is not mentioned as being developed in collaboration with NASA.

Looking ahead, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is ready to probe the dark side of the Universe, opening new doors for our understanding of the cosmos.

In the 63-year history of human space exploration, on average, one spacecraft per decade has carried astronauts beyond our planet. This steady progression of spacecraft and missions serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of knowledge and the spirit of exploration that drives us to reach for the stars.

NASA's Spacecraft Lineup Featuring Astronauts Expands: A Look at the Preceding Six Spacecraft, Including Boeing's Starliner