NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams are set to make history as the first astronauts to launch into space aboard a Boeing spaceship on May 6. They arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for the crewed test flight of the Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. The success of this mission is crucial for demonstrating Boeing’s ability to safely transport crew to and from low-Earth orbit, with future plans to conduct routine flights for NASA. The mission has faced delays due to software glitches and fuel valve issues, but officials are confident that the spacecraft is ready for launch.
The test flight will be closely monitored, as Boeing’s aviation arm has faced scrutiny following a panel blowout on one of its 737 Max 9 planes earlier this year. The delays leading up to this launch were necessary to ensure that the Starliner capsule was fully prepared to carry astronauts into space. Mission managers from NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance have signed off on the May 6 liftoff attempt, with the astronauts completing a full launch-day dress rehearsal. They will spend the next week preparing for the mission, which includes about a week at the International Space Station before returning to Earth.
Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams, both veteran astronauts and former U.S. Navy test pilots, were selected by NASA in 2022 for Boeing’s first crewed test flight. Wilmore, the mission’s commander, has completed two previous spaceflights, including piloting the space shuttle Atlantis to the space station in 2009 and launching to the orbiting outpost aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2014. Williams, the mission’s pilot, has also completed two stints aboard the ISS, first flying to the station on the space shuttle Discovery and later on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Their experience and expertise make them well-suited for this historic mission.
The astronauts’ arrival in Florida on April 25 marked the beginning of their final preparations for the upcoming launch. They will spend the next week working on last-minute preparations and training exercises before the May 6 liftoff attempt. If successful, Wilmore and Williams will spend about a week at the International Space Station before returning to Earth. The successful completion of this mission will be a significant milestone for Boeing, as it aims to join SpaceX in conducting routine crewed flights to and from the space station for NASA. As the astronauts gear up for this historic mission, they are fueled by excitement and confidence in the readiness of the Starliner spacecraft and the dedicated teams supporting them.
