Starliner astronauts give first tour of docked spacecraft

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore recently conducted a tour of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which is currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS).

The duo journeyed to the ISS aboard the Starliner in its first crewed flight, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida atop a ULA Atlas V rocket. The spacecraft successfully docked with the orbital outpost the following day.

Williams initiated the 10-minute tour, floating from the space station into the docked Starliner spacecraft to showcase its features and interior.

The video provides a glimpse of the Starliner’s cockpit, control panels, switches, and knobs used to operate the spacecraft’s systems.

During the tour, Wilmore mentioned that the spacecraft performed exceptionally well, surpassing even simulator expectations. He described how they practiced a “safe haven event” using the Starliner, where they quickly entered the spacecraft and secured the hatch in case of emergencies like approaching space debris.

Despite its compact appearance, Wilmore noted that the Starliner offers adequate room for two astronauts. The spacecraft has the capacity to accommodate up to seven crew members, but the next mission will have a crew of three.

While the Starliner’s first crewed flight is a significant milestone, the journey to the space station encountered some challenges. The mission team identified helium leaks and faced a docking issue with the spacecraft’s reaction control thrusters, which was successfully resolved by the crew.

The ongoing flight test aims to validate the entire transportation system involving the Starliner, including launch procedures, spacecraft operations, and the return process with astronauts onboard.

Once NASA confirms the Starliner’s reliability, it will be certified for regular missions to the space station, providing the agency with an additional transportation option alongside SpaceX’s Crew Dragon vehicle.

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