On their first crewed flight test, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are safely in orbit on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which is their route to the International Space Station.
The astronauts launched aboard a ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday at 10:52 a.m. EDT as part of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. This test was an end-to-end evaluation of the Starliner system.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, “Two courageous NASA astronauts are well on their way on this historic first test flight of a brand-new spacecraft.” The Starliner aircraft of Boeing ushers in a new era of American exploration. Although it is a risky endeavor, human spaceflight is nevertheless worthwhile. For NASA, our business partners, and the field of exploration in general, this is an exciting time. Starliner, Butch, and Suni, go!
The flight test is a component of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to validate the spacecraft, launch pad, transportation system, rocket, in-orbit operations capabilities, and return to Earth with astronauts on board as the agency gets ready to certify Starliner for space station rotational missions. Prior to this, Starliner conducted two unmanned orbital flights, a pad abort demonstration, and a test flight to and from the space station.
According to Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, “Starliner’s launch, separation from the rocket, and arrival on orbit mean that Boeing’s Crew Flight Test is right on track.” “Everyone’s attention is on making sure Butch and Suni have a comfortable and safe ride and completing the test mission successfully.”
From its mission control center in Houston, Boeing will keep an eye on a number of automated spacecraft operations during Starliner’s voyage. From the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, teams from the agency will keep an eye on space station activities during the journey.
According to Steve Stich, manager of the Commercial Crew Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, “flying crew on Starliner represents over a decade of work by the Commercial Crew Program and our partners at Boeing and ULA.” This is a turning point in many of our careers, opening up new crew transportation opportunities for our country and agency. We are going to proceed cautiously, testing Starliner and keeping an eye on things until Butch and Suni return to Earth safely at the end of this test voyage.
At about 12:15 p.m., Starliner will automatically dock to the forward-facing port of the Harmony module of the station. arrive to the orbital laboratory on Thursday, June 6, and stay there for almost a week.
Wilmore and Williams will test the environmental control system, the displays and control system, and the thruster maneuvering, among other tests during flight, to help ensure the spacecraft is operating as intended.
Wilmore and Williams will join NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko on Expedition 71 following a safe arrival at the space station.
The following details (all timings Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations) pertain to NASA’s arrival and in-flight event coverage:
Throughout Starliner’s voyage, mission coverage will be carried on NASA Television channels. It will then pick up again on NASA+ just before docking.
Thursday, June 6
9:30 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, the NASA app, and YouTube, and continues on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
12:15 p.m. – Targeted docking
2 p.m. – Hatch opening
2:20 p.m. – Welcome remarks
3:30 p.m. – Post-docking news conference at NASA Johnson with the following participants:
- NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free
- Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
- Jeff Arend, manager for systems engineering and integration, NASA’s International Space Station Office
- Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
Live coverage of the post-docking press conference will be available on the agency’s website, NASA+, NASA Television, YouTube, and NASA app.
U.S. media must make arrangements to attend the post-docking briefing by contacting the NASA Johnson newsroom by 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 6 at jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov or 281-483-5111. By Thursday, June 6, at 3 p.m., reporters can participate over the phone by contacting the NASA Johnson newsroom.
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5:50 p.m. – Wilmore and Williams will be speaking with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Associate Administrator Jim Free, Associate Administrator for Space Operations Ken Bowersox, and Director of the Johnson Space Center Vanessa Wyche regarding their launch aboard the Starliner spacecraft.
Live coverage of the Earth to space call can be found on the NASA website, NASA+, NASA Television, NASA app, and YouTube.
Saturday, June 8
NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams will give a tour of Starliner at 8:50 a.m.
The in-orbit event will be broadcast live on YouTube, NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the organization’s website.
Monday, June 10
At an event on board the space station, Williams will address kids from Sunita L. Williams Elementary School in Needham, Massachusetts, at 11 a.m.
Live coverage of the Earth to space call will be available on the NASA website, NASA+, NASA Television, YouTube, and the NASA app.
Tuesday, June 11
At a space station event at 3:15 p.m., Wilmore will address Tennessee Tech University students.
Live coverage of the Earth to space call will be available on the NASA website, NASA+, NASA Television, YouTube, and the NASA app.
Meet NASA’s Crew
With 178 days in space under his belt, Wilmore is an experienced astronaut leading this trip. He had already completed two space missions, the most recent of which was as a pilot on the STS-129 mission on the space shuttle Atlantis in 2009. Prior to taking over as commander of the space station for Expedition 42, he served as a flight engineer on Expedition 41 as well. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering, then the University of Tennessee, Knoxville awarded him a second master’s degree in aviation systems before he joined NASA in 2000. During his naval career, Wilmore—a graduate of the USN Test Pilot School—completed four operational deployments.
Williams, the flight test spacecraft pilot, has a wealth of expertise having spent 322 days in space on two flights and seven spacewalks. She received her master’s degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology and her bachelor’s degree in physical science from the U.S. Naval Academy before joining NASA in 1998. Williams has flown in a variety of airplanes for more than 3,000 hours. A new era of space travel has begun with the success of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, providing affordable and safe access to the International Space Station. The advancement of human spaceflight depends on this collaboration with the private sector in the United States. It opens the door for future Artemis missions to the Moon and, eventually, to Mars.