Successful Arrival of NASA’s Boeing Starliner at the ISS
After launching from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Station, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Boeing Starliner has successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS). Two veteran NASA astronauts are on board: Sunita Williams, who served as the craft’s pilot, and Butch Wilmore. Williams became the first woman to pilot a spaceship with crew members on its first mission with this flight. As anticipated, images from the spacecraft’s launch to its arrival at the International Space Station have taken over social media. Williams’ response upon arriving at the International Space Station is seen in one of them. She can be seen dancing joyfully and then giving hugs to astronauts who are already on the space station .
Joyful Reunion Captured on Video
NASA released a video showing Williams boarding the International Space Station (ISS) following Starliner’s docking to the Harmony module’s forward-facing port. She has a big smile on her face and begins to dance joyfully as soon as she walks in. She continues by giving the astronauts who greeted her an embrace. The description for the NASA video of Williams on X states, “That feeling when you’re back on the station! Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are greeted by the space station crew after Boeing Space Starliner’s first crewed journey from Earth”.
That feeling when you're back on the station! 🕺
@NASA_Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are greeted by the @Space_Station crew after @BoeingSpace #Starliner's first crewed journey from Earth. pic.twitter.com/fewKjIi8u0
— NASA (@NASA) June 6, 2024Starliner’s Docking and Arrival Details
A caption for one of the posted videos read, “Docking confirmed! @BoeingSpace’s #Starliner docked to the forward-facing port of the @Space_Station’s Harmony module at 1:34pm ET (1734 UTC). @NASA_Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will soon make their way into the orbital laboratory, where they’ll spend about a week.”
Docking confirmed!@BoeingSpace's #Starliner docked to the forward-facing port of the @Space_Station's Harmony module at 1:34pm ET (1734 UTC). @NASA_Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will soon make their way into the orbital laboratory, where they'll spend about a week. pic.twitter.com/BtcXA4Vq4t
— NASA (@NASA) June 6, 2024Astronauts’ Journey and Achievements
Williams and Wilmore “completed a sleep period” and “manually piloted demonstrations of Starliner” during their journey from Earth to the International Space Station, according to NASA. Sunita Williams has already gone in space for 322 days on two missions. She went on two expeditions: the first in 2006 and the second in 2012. She has completed seven spacewalks thus far.