Boeing Starliner capsule docks with space station despite helium leaks

Successful maneuver means two US-built crewed spacecraft are anchored to ISS simultaneously for first time

Boeing's pioneering Starliner capsule and its two astronauts overcame a technical hiccup to finally dock with the international space station on Thursday, as Nasa continued to monitor two separate helium leaks that have concerned mission managers.

A first attempt at the rendezvous was called off when engineers at the US space agency detected a problem with reaction control thrusters essential to the high-precision docking maneuver.