Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, along with Butch Wilmore, became the first to fly to space aboard the Boeing Starliner’s first-ever crewed mission. The 59-year-old Williams created history by becoming the first woman to fly on the maiden mission of a new human-rated spacecraft.
The crew was launched on 5 June 2024 aboard the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This is the third attempt, with weather being 90% favorable for the launch. Butch, 61, is commanding the flight, and Williams is piloting it. The duo will stay at the International Space Station for about a week before returning to Earth aboard the reusable crew capsule.
The Starliner mission aims to carry astronauts and cargo for future NASA missions to low Earth orbit and beyond.
Q: Who became the first to fly to space aboard the Boeing Starliner’s first-ever crewed mission in June 2024?
a) Neil Armstrong and Sunita Williams
b) Buzz Aldrin and Rakesh Sharma
c) Chris Hadfield and Kaplana Chawala
d) Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore
Answer: d) Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore
