News Arena

Join us

Home
/

starliner-s-sunita-williams-cdr-wilmore-enter-iss

International

Starliner’s Sunita Williams, Cdr Wilmore enter ISS

Williams, 58, flew to space for the third time on Wednesday along with Wilmore, scripting history as the first members aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the ISS. Williams is the pilot for the flight test while Wilmore, 61, is the commander of the mission.

News Arena Network - Houston - UPDATED: June 7, 2024, 06:35 PM - 5 mins read

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Starliner’s Sunita Williams, Cdr Wilmore enter ISS

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.


NASA's Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore have successfully docked Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) after overcoming new issues that cropped up en route to the orbiting laboratory.

 

Williams, 58, flew to space for the third time on Wednesday along with Wilmore, scripting history as the first members aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the ISS. Williams is the pilot for the flight test while Wilmore, 61, is the commander of the mission.

 

Boeing Starliner spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station at 1:34 pm on Thursday, about 26 hours after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, NASA said in a statement.

 

Williams shared her gratitude to the family and friends who have been with them during the lead-up to the launch.

 

“We have another family up here, which is just awesome,” Williams said. “And we’re just happy as can be to be up in space, one in Starliner on an Atlas V, and then here at the International Space Station. It just doesn’t get much better.” On the way to the ISS, the crew completed a series of tests including manually flying Starliner for the first time in space. The two Starliner astronauts, who are joining seven others currently living on the station, will assist with various tests and conduct scientific experiments while in space.

 

"It is both amazing and humbling to join the fleet of commercial spacecraft capable of conducting crewed transportation services to and from the space station for NASA. Our teams have done some great work to get us to this point," said Kay Sears, vice president and general manager of Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems for Boeing Defence, Space & Security.

 

“The launch yesterday and docking today puts the Starliner on a path to certification to enabling continued exploration and science that benefits humanity,” said Jim Free, NASA Associate Administrator, during a news conference on Thursday.

 

“For Butch and Suni (Sunita), I want to thank them for the years they have spent to getting us to this point, the expertise they bring to their roles and their dedication to the task of advancing human spaceflight,” he added.

 

The two also completed a sleep period. Before crew sleep, mission teams identified three helium leaks in the spacecraft. One of these was previously discussed before flight along with a management plan, and the other two occurred when the spacecraft arrived in orbit. To monitor and manage these leaks, the three helium manifolds were closed in flight during the crew’s sleep period and were all reopened ahead of rendezvous and docking operations. After docking, all Starliner manifolds are closed per normal plans.

 

As Starliner began its approach to the space station, five reaction control system thrusters failed during flight. Mission teams performed a series of hot-fire tests which re-enabled four of the thrusters while the crew manually piloted the spacecraft at the station’s 200-meter hold point.

 

After re-selecting four of the thrusters, Starliner had the fault tolerance required to approach the space station for docking. At the 10-meter hold point, the mission team completed system readiness evaluations and proceeded with docking.

 

After spending about a week in orbit, Wilmore and Williams will board the Starliner and return home.

 

The International Space Station Programme brings together international flight crews, multiple launch vehicles, globally distributed launch and flight operations, training, engineering, communications networks, and the international scientific research community.

 

As part of NASA's Commercial Crew Programme, the mission is the first crewed flight for the Starliner spacecraft.

 

This mission is a critical venture for manufacturer Boeing, which has been under pressure after a series of safety incidents on its aeroplanes.

 

Starliner, likewise, has encountered numerous technical issues that have delayed its planned crewed debut by almost a decade.

 

The most dramatic of these problems occurred on the capsule's first uncrewed test flight in 2019 when software errors forced the vehicle to abort its trip to the ISS. NASA requested a second dummy run be conducted in 2022 to be sure the errors had been corrected.

 

Starliner was developed in response to NASA's request for commercial options to get its astronauts into space.

 

Following the retirement of the famous shuttles in 2011, the agency wanted to move away from owning and operating vehicles to an arrangement where it could simply purchase the service - just like a company might outsource its IT needs or payroll.

 

The new approach was designed to save NASA money it could then spend on ambitious plans to return people to the Moon.

 

The agency gave contracts to Boeing and SpaceX to help bring their capsules into service and then pay them for six operational missions. Whereas SpaceX was able to fly its crew flight test in 2020 and then complete six operational missions by March of this year, Boeing is still at the stage of the initial crew flight test. 

Related News
Trump, supported by security personnel, after being grazed by a bullet.

FBI finally confirms bullet 'grazed' former Prez Trump’s ear

July 27, 2024, 08:53 AM - 3 mins read

Wearing a massive white plume, the American star performed the popular French song Mon truc en plumes, which translates to ‘My thing with feathers,’ originally sung by dancer and singer Zizi (Renée) Jeanmaire in 1962.

Lady Gaga sizzles at Paris Olympics opening ceremony

July 27, 2024, 12:11 AM - 1 min read

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games began with the 'Parade of the Nations' in Paris with athletes from 205 countries sailing down the iconic Seine river on boats, marking a dreamy break from tradition despite rain threatening to play spoilsport.

It's a spectacular Seine as Paris Olympics open

July 27, 2024, 12:20 AM - 3 mins read

India Takes Chair From China at Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre.

India takes China's chair to Asian Disaster Centre

July 26, 2024, 05:39 PM - 2 mins read

India Leads Security Sector At BIMSTEC Chiefs Meeting In Myanmar.

Ajit Doval emphasises counter-terrorism at BIMSTEC meet

July 26, 2024, 04:44 PM - 4 mins read

White House condemns racist, sexist attacks on Harris

White House condemns racist, sexist attacks on Harris

July 26, 2024, 09:23 AM - 3 mins read

https://www.instagram.com/thelaughclubofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/burraahhh_/

International

See All
Trump, supported by security personnel, after being grazed by a bullet.

FBI finally confirms bullet 'grazed' former Prez Trump’s ear

July 27, 2024, 08:52 AM - 3 mins read

Trump harshly criticised FBI Director Christopher Wray for his earlier uncertainty. Wray had told Congress that there was "some question about whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear."

Read more
Wearing a massive white plume, the American star performed the popular French song Mon truc en plumes, which translates to ‘My thing with feathers,’ originally sung by dancer and singer Zizi (Renée) Jeanmaire in 1962.

Lady Gaga sizzles at Paris Olympics opening ceremony

July 27, 2024, 12:11 AM - 1 min read

Wearing a massive white plume, the American star performed the popular French song Mon truc en plumes, which translates to ‘My thing with feathers,’ originally sung by dancer and singer Zizi (Renée) Jeanmaire in 1962.

Read more
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games began with the 'Parade of the Nations' in Paris with athletes from 205 countries sailing down the iconic Seine river on boats, marking a dreamy break from tradition despite rain threatening to play spoilsport.

It's a spectacular Seine as Paris Olympics open

July 26, 2024, 11:34 PM - 3 mins read

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games began with the 'Parade of the Nations' in Paris with athletes from 205 countries sailing down the iconic Seine river on boats, marking a dreamy break from tradition despite rain threatening to play spoilsport.

Read more
With Obama's endorsement, Harris, who is of Indian and African origin, has secured support from all major Democrats and party leaders in Congress, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Will do everything to make you win: Obama endorses Harris

July 26, 2024, 07:56 PM - 5 mins read

With Obama's endorsement, Harris, who is of Indian and African origin, has secured support from all major Democrats and party leaders in Congress, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Read more
For the first time, the elections for the chancellor will be held online compared to the traditional process in which the graduates are required to attend the process in full academic dress. The prestigious chancellorship goes to graduates of the university, usually politicians, a UK-based newspaper said.

Imran Khan to run for Oxford Chancellor’s position from jail

July 26, 2024, 07:03 PM - 3 mins read

For the first time, the elections for the chancellor will be held online compared to the traditional process in which the graduates are required to attend the process in full academic dress. The prestigious chancellorship goes to graduates of the university, usually politicians, a UK-based newspaper said.

Read more
Russia and India Enhance Dialogue at ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.

EAM Jaishankar meets Lavrov at ASEAN Foreign Min's talks

July 26, 2024, 06:44 PM - 2 mins read

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Vientiane, Laos, on Friday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. A photo shared by the Russian Embassy in India captured the moment as both ministers greeted each other with smiles and handshakes.

Read more
High Speed Rail Sabotaged Hours Before Paris Olympics Kickstart.

French high speed rail targeted by vandalism before Olympics

July 26, 2024, 05:59 PM - 3 mins read

In a dramatic turn of events, France's high-speed TGV rail network was struck by a series of "malicious acts," including arson attacks, just hours before the grand opening of the Paris Olympics 2024. These coordinated acts of sabotage aimed to disrupt travel across some of the country’s busiest rail lines, casting a shadow over the highly anticipated Games.

Read more
ASEAN Key to India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific: EAM Jaishankar

Jaishankar calls ASEAN vital for India’s regional strategy

July 26, 2024, 05:51 PM - 3 mins read

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasised on Friday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains central to India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Indo-Pacific vision. Speaking at the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Jaishankar underscored the deepening partnership between India and ASEAN, noting its expanding dimensions each year.

Read more
India Takes Chair From China at Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre.

India takes China's chair to Asian Disaster Centre

July 26, 2024, 05:39 PM - 2 mins read

On Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that India has officially taken over as the Chair of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC). This leadership role follows the end of China's tenure. The transition highlights India's growing influence in the field of disaster management and its commitment to enhancing regional and global disaster risk reduction efforts.

Read more
India Leads Security Sector At BIMSTEC Chiefs Meeting In Myanmar.

Ajit Doval emphasises counter-terrorism at BIMSTEC meet

July 26, 2024, 04:44 PM - 4 mins read

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently attended the 4th Annual Meeting of BIMSTEC Security Chiefs in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, leading the Indian delegation. His participation highlighted India's commitment to enhancing regional security cooperation. Doval's national statement underscored the importance of strengthening efforts against terrorism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and organised crime.

Read more
White House condemns racist, sexist attacks on Harris

White House condemns racist, sexist attacks on Harris

July 26, 2024, 09:23 AM - 3 mins read

The White House condemned the escalating sexist and racist assaults on Vice President Kamala Harris and termed it as "appalling," particularly following her selection as the Democratic party's presumptive presidential nominee.

Read more
US President Joe Biden. File photo.

Biden pledges participation in 2024 QUAD summit in India

July 26, 2024, 07:43 AM - 2 mins read

Despite no fixed date yet, Biden's engagement with the QUAD countries—Australia, Japan, India, and the US—remains a priority.

Read more

TOP CATEGORIES

  • Paris Olympics

QUICK LINKS

About us Rss FeedSitemapPrivacy PolicyTerms & Condition
logo

2024 News Arena India Pvt Ltd | All rights reserved | The Ideaz Factory