Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams has blasted off into history! On June 5th, she became the first woman to pilot a brand new spacecraft on its first crewed mission.
Liftoff alongside NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, Sunita commanded Boeing's Starliner capsule. This crucial test flight is a stepping stone for Starliner to join the ranks of certified spaceships ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
A seasoned spacefarer with 322 days already spent in orbit, Sunita is no stranger to breaking records. During previous missions, she snagged titles for most spacewalks (7) and most extended spacewalk duration (50 hours, 40 minutes) by a woman – ever!
Carrying over 500 pounds of supplies for the ISS, Starliner will dock after a 26-hour journey. Sunita and Wilmore will spend a week testing the spacecraft's systems before returning to Earth with a parachute-assisted landing.
Sunita's heritage adds another layer to this incredible feat. Born to an Indian-American father and Slovenian-American mother, she's a true global citizen, even carrying keepsakes from both cultures on past missions.
As Sunita and Butch pave the way for commercial spaceflight partnerships, their mission marks a giant leap for women in space exploration. Sunita Williams, we salute you!
Image Credits: Instagram
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Liftoff alongside NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, Sunita commanded Boeing's Starliner capsule. This crucial test flight is a stepping stone for Starliner to join the ranks of certified spaceships ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
A seasoned spacefarer with 322 days already spent in orbit, Sunita is no stranger to breaking records. During previous missions, she snagged titles for most spacewalks (7) and most extended spacewalk duration (50 hours, 40 minutes) by a woman – ever!
Carrying over 500 pounds of supplies for the ISS, Starliner will dock after a 26-hour journey. Sunita and Wilmore will spend a week testing the spacecraft's systems before returning to Earth with a parachute-assisted landing.
Sunita's heritage adds another layer to this incredible feat. Born to an Indian-American father and Slovenian-American mother, she's a true global citizen, even carrying keepsakes from both cultures on past missions.
As Sunita and Butch pave the way for commercial spaceflight partnerships, their mission marks a giant leap for women in space exploration. Sunita Williams, we salute you!
Image Credits: Instagram
Also Read: Rakul Preet Singh's Fiji fashion: Your ultimate summer style inspiration
5 timeless words of advice by Bollywood legend Zeenat Aman
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