Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams was all set for her third space voyage aboard the Boeing Starliner, scheduled for May 7. A technical issue has caused the launch to be delayed; however, no new date has been announced. Williams, born on September 19, 1965, has spent 322 days in space throughout two space missions since 1998. Known for her calm demeanour, she expressed a mix of excitement and readiness for the upcoming mission despite flying in a new spacecraft.
Williams was chosen for NASA’s commercial crew programme, which aims to certify the Starliner for future crew transport to the International Space Station (ISS). She is a former Navy officer with degrees in physical science.
Before departing for Earth on May 15, the mission plan calls for an eight-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS) to undertake multiple tests and experiments. Boeing’s Starliner test flight, lasting approximately 26 hours, is crucial for achieving certification. If successful, Boeing would join SpaceX in offering personnel transport services to and from the International Space Station.
Boeing aims to make a major contribution to NASA’s transportation needs with six scheduled trips over the next six years, using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft in addition to the Starliner.
