June 5th 2024.
On Wednesday, history was made as Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams embarked on her third journey to space. Along with her colleague, Butch Wilmore, Williams boarded Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for a 25-hour flight to the International Space Station. The launch took place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, after facing multiple delays.
58-year-old Williams is the pilot for the flight test, while 61-year-old Wilmore serves as the commander of the mission. This launch marks the beginning of the NASA-Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test, according to Boeing. "This crew flight test represents the start of a new era of space exploration as we witness astronauts Wilmore and Williams put Boeing's Starliner through its paces on their way to the International Space Station," said Ted Colbert, President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
With great anticipation, Boeing looks forward to the safe arrival of the astronauts at the space station, and their eventual return home. Wilmore and Williams are currently experiencing microgravity on their way to the space station, as they become the first crew to be launched on an Atlas V rocket. During their flight, they will conduct various flight test objectives, including manually flying the Starliner. The spacecraft is also carrying about 760 pounds of cargo.
Once docked to the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will spend approximately a week on board before returning to Earth. This successful flight test will pave the way for Boeing and NASA to certify the Starliner for long-duration operational missions to the ISS. Williams, who has already made history as the first woman to embark on such a mission, has a track record of breaking barriers. During her previous trips to the International Space Station in 2007 and 2012, she completed a triathlon and ran the Boston Marathon, respectively.
Williams' impressive credentials include receiving her commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy from the United States Naval Academy in 1987. In 1998, she was selected as an astronaut by NASA and has since completed two space missions, Expeditions 14/15 in 2006 and 32/33 in 2012, during which she served as a flight engineer and commander, respectively.
Boeing's Crew Flight Test mission has faced several delays over the years due to setbacks in the spacecraft's development. However, with this successful launch, Boeing has become the second private company, alongside SpaceX, capable of providing crew transport to and from the International Space Station.
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