NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are gearing up to make history as the first people to fly on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The duo, both U.S. Navy test pilots, are set to launch on the Crew Flight Test (CFT) on May 6 at 10:34 p.m. EDT.
Having been selected for CFT after years of experience in the program, Williams and Wilmore bring a wealth of expertise to the mission. With thousands of hours of flying experience in high-performance jets, long-duration ISS missions, space shuttles, and Soyuz spacecraft, the duo’s experience in testing aircraft and spacecraft systems will be crucial in evaluating Starliner during the mission.
Boeing was awarded a $4.2 billion contract from NASA for the Starliner program, which has faced technical delays in the past. Despite these setbacks, Williams and Wilmore see each challenge as an opportunity for improvement.
The CFT will not only include tests of Starliner but also a brief visit to the International Space Station. This mission is considered a developmental one, with the next operational six-month mission, Starliner-1, scheduled for 2025. The crew members for Starliner-1 are deeply involved in CFT’s training and mission operations.
Both Williams and Wilmore express immense gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this historic mission and are dedicated to performing their best. The anticipation is high as they prepare to embark on this groundbreaking journey into space.