Washington

Scheduled for Monday, May 6th at 10:34 p.m. EDT (May 7th, 8:04 a.m. Indian Standard Time), a significant event is on the horizon: Indian-origin astronaut Captain Sunita Williams and fellow veteran NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore are poised to embark on a historic journey. They will be aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, launching from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This mission marks the inaugural crewed test flight of the Starliner, a venture that, if successful, will signify a major milestone in private space travel.

Following in the footsteps of SpaceX, Boeing aims to establish itself as a reliable provider of crew transport to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Notably, Starliner faced setbacks in the past, with a failed attempt in December 2019. However, a subsequent uncrewed test flight in May 2022 demonstrated its capabilities. Now, with Williams and Wilmore at the helm, the Starliner is set to undergo rigorous testing during its journey to the ISS. The astronauts will conduct various tests onboard, contributing to NASA’s certification process for the Starliner’s suitability for future missions under the Commercial Crew Program. The flight is expected to last approximately 26 hours, with the crew spending eight days aboard the ISS before returning to Earth on May 15th. This mission represents a crucial step forward in the realm of private space exploration, showcasing the collaborative efforts between government agencies and commercial entities to advance humanity’s presence in space.