Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore successfully docked the Boeing Starliner with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday. The 59-year-old Williams has become the first woman to pilot and test a new crewed spacecraft on its inaugural mission.
Williams, who previously brought an idol of Lord Ganesh and the Bhagavad Gita to space, has returned to the ISS for her third mission. To celebrate her arrival, she performed a dance and embraced the seven other astronauts aboard the ISS. Williams and Wilmore were greeted by the ringing of a bell, an ISS tradition.
“That’s the way to get things going,” Sunita Williams said, referring to her “dance party.” She expressed her gratitude to her crewmembers, calling them “another family” and thanking them for the warm welcome.
Hugs all around! The Expedition 71 crew greets Butch Wilmore and @Astro_Suni aboard @Space_Station after #Starliner docked at 1:34 p.m. ET on June 6. pic.twitter.com/wQZAYy2LGH
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) June 6, 2024
Williams and Wilmore are the first crew to fly the Starliner. They successfully docked the Boeing spacecraft to the ISS about 26 hours after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The astronauts monitored the Starliner as it autonomously performed a series of maneuvers to approach the orbiting laboratory before docking. Docking was delayed for about an hour due to minor technical issues such as helium leaks.
During their journey to the ISS, the crew conducted several tests, including manually flying the Starliner for the first time in space. They will spend approximately a week in space, assisting with various tests and conducting scientific experiments. Upon their return, the crew will land on solid ground instead of in the sea.
Listen to the @Space_Station crew's remarks welcoming #Starliner Crew Flight Test commander Butch Wilmore and pilot @Astro_Suni to ISS after entering today at 3:45 p.m. ET. pic.twitter.com/2TGVNQW89r
— Boeing Space (@BoeingSpace) June 6, 2024
NASA has sought an alternative to the SpaceX Crew Module for ferrying astronauts, and the Boeing Starliner is emerging as a viable option as part of the commercial crew program.
“Like Going Back Home”: Sunita Williams On Flying To Space Station
Before the lift-off, Sunita Williams admitted to feeling a bit nervous but had no jitters about flying in a new spacecraft. “When I reach the International Space Station, it will be like going back home,” she said.
Williams played a significant role in designing the SUV-sized Starliner, which can accommodate seven crew members. She also had the honor of naming the spacecraft “Calypso,” after the famous ship on which French oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau explored the oceans.
