Sunita Williams’ Third Space Mission Called Off Hours Before Lift-Off, Know Why

New Delhi: Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has been in the news as she had been gearing up for her third space mission; she is part of NASA’s crew for the test flight of the new Boeing Starliner. This Boeing Starliner was supposed to lift-off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida at 8:04 AM IST. However, hours before lift-off, the space mission has been called off and the reason is technical issues. The same has been announced in a live NASA Webcast.

NASA Astronauts For Boeing Starliner Space Mission

The Boeing Starliner Space Mission had a two-member crew of two NASA Astronauts, namely, Barry Wilmore who is 61-years-old and 58-year-old Sunita Williams. The astronauts were scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket at 8:04 AM IST today, on May 7, 2024.

Sunita Williams’ Third Space Mission CALLED OFF

As said before, Sunita Williams’ third space mission, which was scheduled to lift-off today, has been called-off due to a technical snag. The astronauts were ready and were also strapped into their seats in the aircraft and an hour later, the launch activity was completely suspended and the astronauts were assisted out of the capsule by technicians. They are now waiting for their second launch attempt.

All About Boeing Starliner Mission

Williams, 59, a retired US Navy captain and Wilmore were going to pilot the flight, which Boeing was calling its Crew Flight Test (CFT) and it was supposed to be docked with the ISS for about a week. The Starliner flight to the ISS was expected to last about 26 hours, and the two astronauts would live and work on the ISS for 8 days before undocking and returning to Earth on May 15.

During the test flight, the astronaut duo were to take the Starliner through a series of tests before NASA certified it to be fit to fly to space on rotational missions to the ISS under the US space agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Unlike previous US capsules that splashed down in the sea on returning to Earth, the Starliner was to touch down on land at a site somewhere in the western part of the United States, NASA said.

(Inputs from ANI)