Indian astronaut Sunita Williams will pilot Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, Calypso, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration, with NASA aiming to certify it as the second orbital spacecraft.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing for her third spaceflight as the pilot aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The craft's inaugural crewed test flight, scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida, is delayed due to spacecraft development setbacks. The mission signifies a significant milestone for Boeing's space program.

Ms. Williams, recognized as a leading figure for women pursuing space exploration, was poised to embark on another journey into the skies today aboard a state-of-the-art spacecraft. The Boeing Starliner was scheduled for liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida's Cape Canaveral at 8:04 am India time.

However, just 90 minutes before liftoff, the launch of the Atlas V rocket was postponed. The United States space agency NASA cited an off-nominal condition concerning an oxygen relief valve for the delay. Ms Williams and NASA's Barry Wilmore, slated to pilot the Starliner to the International Space Station, safely disembarked from the spacecraft following the postponement announcement.

Boeing's vice president and Starliner program manager, Mark Nappi, acknowledged the challenges in developing a human space vehicle, highlighting the team's resilience and progress. "Design and development are challenging, particularly with a human space vehicle," Nappi remarked during a recent news briefing.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also underscored the historic significance of the upcoming Starliner mission, calling it "history in the making" and praising the current era as the "golden era of space exploration."

The Starliner spacecraft, named Calypso by Williams in homage to explorer Jacques Cousteau, is equipped for autonomous or manual piloting and is set to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station. Williams, a distinguished naval aviator and NASA astronaut, brings extensive experience and leadership to the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission to certify Starliner for future crewed missions to the space station.

With SpaceX's Crew Dragon leading the commercial space race, NASA is keen to certify Starliner as the second spacecraft with orbital capabilities for human spaceflight. Williams' contributions to space exploration and her impressive aviation career exemplify the dedication and expertise driving advancements in space technology.

Boeing's second flight to the International Space Station and third Starliner flight test, including the uncrewed mission OFT-2 in May 2022, represent significant milestones in their exploration endeavors. Additionally, as reported by NASA, Boeing completed a pad abort demonstration in November 2019.

The upcoming NASA Boeing crew flight test is the final validation for Starliner's transportation system. This test will assess various components, including the launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, in-orbit operational capabilities, and the crucial return to Earth with astronauts aboard, marking a pivotal step in advancing space travel technology.