NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Docks at ISS on Starliner's First Crewed Mission

By siliconindia  |  Friday, 07 June 2024, 10:40:09 AM IST

NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Docks at ISS on Starliner's First Crewed Mission
In a milestone for space exploration, Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams danced her way to the International Space Station (ISS) as Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully docked at the orbital laboratory. Accompanied by NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, Williams will spend approximately a week aboard the ISS.
The successful docking was confirmed by NASA in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "Docking confirmed! @BoeingSpace's Starliner docked to the forward-facing port of the @Space_Station's Harmony module. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will spend about a week. That feeling when you're back on the station!”
Williams and Wilmore's arrival marks the first crewed flight for the Starliner spacecraft, launched as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The spacecraft was lifted into space on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The mission represents a significant step in NASA's efforts to expand its crewed spaceflight capabilities. The Starliner mission aims to carry astronauts and cargo for future NASA missions to low Earth orbit and beyond, contributing to routine space travel to and from the space station.
As part of the mission’s objectives, the crew flight test seeks to certify the Starliner for regular operations, enhancing NASA's ability to conduct scientific research and logistical operations in space.
After docking, the seven Expedition 71 crew members joined Williams and Wilmore for a team portrait, celebrating the successful integration of the new crew members aboard the ISS.

ON THE DECK

siliconindia