Boeing Starliner launch: 10 photos captured by skygazers

Boeing Starliner launch: 10 photos captured by skygazers A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off on a test flight to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying Boeing’s Starliner capsule lifted off Thursday evening from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, according to WFTV. The spacecraft, which has a dummy but no people on board, is on a test flight to the International Space Station, where it is expected to dock shortly after 7 p.m. EDT Friday, NASA said.

>> Read more trending news

The launch came more than two years after software errors thwarted the capsule’s first test flight in December 2019, The Associated Press reported. Corroded valves stopped a second launch attempt last summer, according to the news agency.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Skygazers took to social media to share photos of the launch with the hashtag #Starliner. Here are some of our favorites:

1. @mdcainjr, Instagram

2. @Kyle_M_Photo, Twitter

3. @GregScott_photo, Twitter

4. @earth.to.emerson, Instagram

5. @Zshauladventure, Twitter

6. @theresacross_, Twitter

7. @_mgde_, Twitter

8. @the_space_nut, Twitter

9. @NASAHQphoto, Twitter

10. @launchphoto, Instagram

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station In this 25-second exposure, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft aboard launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Photos: Boeing Starliner capsule lifts off for test flight to International Space Station A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that will launch Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station stands ready on launch complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Thursday, May 19, 2022. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP)