Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams is set to go to space for the third time as she launches onboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
The spacecraft will launch on its first crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) at 8:04am on May 6.
The mission, known as the Crew Flight Test (CFT), will carry Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard the Starliner capsule, which will be launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This historic flight will be a crucial step in certifying the Starliner system for regular crew rotations to the orbiting laboratory, providing NASA with a second option for transporting astronauts to the ISS alongside SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
“We feel very safe and very comfortable when this spacecraft flies. This is where we’re supposed to be,” Sunita Williams said.
During the approximately 10-day mission, Wilmore and Williams will thoroughly test the Starliner's systems and capabilities, paving the way for the spacecraft to begin operational crew flights to the space station.
"This is a major milestone for the Commercial Crew Program and for NASA, as we work to restore America's human spaceflight capabilities," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "We're excited to see Starliner's first crewed flight test and look forward to a successful mission."
The Starliner spacecraft, which can carry up to seven astronauts, is designed to be partially reusable, with the crew capsule capable of up to ten missions. The vehicle's launch on the Atlas V rocket marks a significant step forward in the development of Boeing's human spaceflight capabilities.
With the successful completion of this Crew Flight Test, the Starliner will be one step closer to joining SpaceX's Crew Dragon in regularly transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station, further solidifying the United States' independent access to space.
Currently, Wilmore and Williams have been quarantined inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building since they arrived at the Florida spaceport on April 25.
The astronauts will spend about a week at the orbiting laboratory before the crew capsule makes a parachute and airbag-assisted landing in the southwestern United States.
