NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have traveled on the first crewed flight test aboard Boeings Starliner spacecraft which docked with the International Space Station.

As part of NASAs Boeing Crew Flight Test, the astronauts lifted off at 9:52 a.m. June 5 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on an end-to-end test of the Starliner system.

Two bold NASA astronauts are well on their way on this historic first test flight of a brand-new spacecraft, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. Boeings Starliner marks a new chapter of American exploration. Human spaceflight is a daring task but thats why its worth doing. Its an exciting time for NASA, our commercial partners, and the future of exploration. Go Starliner, Go Butch and Suni!

As part ofNASAs Commercial Crew Program, the flight test will help validate the transportation system, launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, in-orbit operations capabilities, and return to Earth with astronauts aboard as the agency prepares to certify Starliner for rotational missions to the space station. Starliner previously flew two uncrewed orbital flights, including a test to and from the space station, along with a pad abort demonstration.

With Starliners launch, separation from the rocket, and arrival on orbit, Boeings Crew Flight Test is right on track, Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeings Commercial Crew Program, said. Everyone is focused on giving Suni and Butch a safe, comfortable, ride and performing a successful test mission from start to finish.

During Starliners flight, Boeing will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Houston. NASA teams will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agencys Johnson Space Center.

Flying crew on Starliner represents over a decade of work by the Commercial Crew Program and our partners at Boeing and ULA, Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, at NASAs Johnson Space Center, said. For many of us, this is a career-defining moment bringing on a new crew transportation capability for our agency and our nation. We are going to take it one step at a time, putting Starliner through its paces, and remaining vigilant until Butch and Suni safely touch down back on Earth at the conclusion of this test flight.

Starliner autonomously docked to the forward-facing port of the stations Harmony module Thursday and would remain at the orbital laboratory for about a week.

Wilmore and Williams will help verify the spacecraft is performing as intended by testing the environmental control system, the displays and control system, and by maneuvering the thrusters, among other tests during flight.

After arriving at the space station, Wilmore and Williams joined the Expedition 71 crew of NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin and Oleg Kononenko.

The Huntsville Operations Support Center at Marshall Space Flight Center provides engineering and mission operations support for the space station, the Commercial Crew Program, and Artemis missions, as well as science and technology demonstration missions. ThePayload Operations Integration Centerwithin HOSC operates, plans and coordinates the science experiments onboard the space station 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The Commercial Crew Program support team at Marshall provides crucial programmatic, engineering, and safety and mission assurance expertise for launch vehicles, spacecraft propulsion, and integrated vehicle performance.

A flag-raising ceremony was held May 2 outside the HOSC for Marshalls support of the mission. The ceremony was a joint effort between the Payload and Mission Operations Division and Commercial Crew Program team.

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NASA astronauts pilot Starliner crewed test to Station - Theredstonerocket