Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, alongside her crewmate Butch Wilmore, safely docked the Boeing Starliner with the ISS on Thursday. Sunita Williams, aged 59, has made history as the first woman to pilot and test a new crewed spacecraft on its inaugural mission.
Celebrating her arrival at the space station, Sunita Williams performed a dance and embraced the seven other astronauts aboard the ISS. The traditional ringing of a bell welcomed Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, signifying their successful arrival.
Expressing gratitude to her fellow crewmembers for the warm reception, Sunita Williams referred to them as “another family” and appreciated the camaraderie. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are the pioneering crew to fly the Starliner, successfully docking the spacecraft to the ISS approximately 26 hours after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Despite minor technical glitches causing a brief delay, such as minor helium leaks, docking proceeded smoothly. During their journey to the ISS, the astronauts conducted various tests, including manually piloting the Starliner in space for the first time.
Scheduled to spend about a week in space, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will assist with tests and scientific experiments before returning home. Unlike traditional sea landings, their return on the Starliner will be on land, offering an alternative to SpaceX’s Crew Module as part of NASA’s commercial crew program.
