Starliner would engage mind- to- head with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which since 2020 has been NASA’s single vehicle for sending ISS crew members to circle from US soil. In addition to the combined astronomer planes it conducts with Russia’s Soyuz jet, NASA has long requested two US trips to the place.
The annual team for the seven- chair Starliner includes two former NASA astronauts: Barry” Butch” Wilmore, 61, a retired US Navy commander and fighter aircraft, and Sunita” Suni” Williams, 58, a former Navy helicopter test pilot with experience flying more than 30 unique aircraft.
Over the course of two ISS missions, they have spent a total of 500 days in space. Wilmore is the designated commander for Saturday’s flight, with Williams in the pilot seat.
Although Starliner is designed to fly autonomously, the crew can assume control of the spacecraft if necessary. Wilmore and Williams are instructed to practice manoeuvring the vehicle while taking a test flight, which will require it to travel to the space station for at least eight days before making its return to Earth.