Heading to the stars: Sunita Williams and Boeing’s Starliner embark on a space journey

Prepare for liftoff as Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams gears up for an extraordinary voyage aboard Boeing’s Starliner, marking the spacecraft’s inaugural human spaceflight.

Teaming up with Nasa colleague Barry “Butch” Wilmore, 61, Williams, aged 58, is set to embark on the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, a historic milestone for Starliner’s journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

WHEN IS THE LAUNCH?

The eagerly anticipated launch of Williams and Wilmore is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7. Although slated for May 6, the launch, when viewed from India, will take place in the early hours of May 7.

Their odyssey will commence atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with liftoff planned for 8:04 am IST.

A PIVOTAL EXPEDITION

This groundbreaking endeavor plays a pivotal role in certifying the Starliner system for routine crew rotations to the ISS, offering NASA an alternative means of ferrying astronauts alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.

“We have absolute confidence in the safety and reliability of this spacecraft. It’s our home away from home,” Williams expressed during a press briefing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Having patiently awaited a commercial crew assignment for nearly a decade, Williams’ expertise in spacecraft development led to her selection for the program in 2015, eventually earmarking her for the CFT mission in 2022.

Wilmore, originally designated as a backup, entered the program queue in 2019 and transitioned to the CFT primary crew in October 2020. He leveraged his proficiency in test acquisition to bolster Starliner’s evolution.

WITNESS THE LAUNCH

Throughout the anticipated 10-day venture, Wilmore and Williams will meticulously assess the Starliner’s functionalities, paving the way for operational crew flights to the ISS and facilitating a brief rendezvous with the Expedition 71 crew and NASA Crew 8.

Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson noted, “This marks a significant milestone for the Commercial Crew Program and Nasa’s endeavor to reignite America’s human spaceflight capabilities.”

The successful culmination of this Crew Flight Test represents a significant stride toward establishing routine personnel transport to and from the ISS, cementing the United States’ autonomous access to space.