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Sunita Williams’ third space mission delayed due to technical glitch
The highly-anticipated first-crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner, slated to carry the Indian-American astronaut, faced an unexpected delay just hours before liftoff on May.6.
Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams. / Screengrab X/@Astro_Suni
The first-crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner, which would take Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams into space for a third time, was delayed hours before the scheduled launch on May.6 due to a technical glitch, NASA officials have confirmed.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Williams were strapped onto their seats in the spacecraft at the Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex-41 in Florida and preparing for liftoff when the delay call was announced.
"Standing down on tonight's attempt to launch. As I've said before, @NASA's first priority is safety. We go when we're read," NASA chief Bill Nelson posted on X.
NASA said it would hold a press conference later on May.6 to announce updates on the next possible launch date. The delay was announced to let engineers probe unusual readings from an oxygen relief valve on the second stage of the rocket.
This mission’s objectives include comprehensive testing of the spacecraft’s functionalities, encompassing launch procedures, docking maneuvers, and a safe return to Earth in the western United States. A successful crewed flight test will pave the way for certifying Starliner and associated systems for future crewed missions to the space station.
Notably, Williams brings an esteemed record of space exploration to this mission, having been selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998. She has previously undertaken two space missions, Expeditions 14/15 and 32/33.
During Expedition 14/15 (December 2006 - June 2007), Williams established a world record for female astronauts by conducting four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes outside the ISS. In Expedition 32/33 (July - November 2012), she served as flight engineer and ISS commander, conducting three spacewalks alongside Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
Williams has accrued 322 days in space across her missions, with a cumulative spacewalk time of 50 hours and 40 minutes, once a record for female astronauts.
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