Results for: International Space Station

Boeing’s first astronaut launch, slated to carry Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station, has been postponed due to a valve problem on the Atlas V rocket. The issue, involving an oxygen pressure-relief valve on the rocket’s upper stage, halted the countdown just two hours before the planned liftoff. NASA and United Launch Alliance engineers are evaluating the valve’s condition and will decide whether to replace it or proceed with the launch as early as Tuesday night. This delay underscores the challenges faced by Boeing as it works to certify Starliner as a commercial crew vehicle capable of transporting astronauts to the ISS.

After numerous delays and setbacks, Boeing is finally ready to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard its Starliner spacecraft. This historic launch, scheduled for May 6, 2023, will be the first crewed flight for Starliner and will mark a significant milestone in human spaceflight. The mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), will carry astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the ISS, where they will spend approximately one week conducting research and testing the Starliner’s systems.

Astronaut Sunita Williams is undergoing training for her third mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She is set to become the pilot of the Crew Flight Test mission, which will be the first crewed flight for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The mission will involve a week-long stay on the ISS and will test the capabilities of the Starliner system, including launch, docking, and return to Earth.

After a year of rigorous training, five Europeans and an Australian have graduated from ESA’s astronaut training program, marking only the fourth astronaut class since 1978. The new astronauts will be eligible for missions to the International Space Station and potentially Artemis moon missions. They bring a wealth of experience in science, medicine, military service, and aviation.