After several delays lasting longer than anyone wanted, but to ensure the Starliner capsule was ready to lift off with humans on board, Boeing United Launch Aliance and NASA put the Crew Test Flight in the history books.
NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore who were in the capsule for this test flight were joined by backup astronaut Mike “Spanky” Fincke at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility after arriving in a trio of T-38 trainers. That was quite a sight to see for those at the press conference since astronauts arriving in T-38s for a launch haven’t been seen very often since the shuttle program ended.
They gave the crowd one overhead pass before circling around to land and taxi to the press conference area.
They were able to speak for a bit to the gathered members of the media before heading off to the Astronaut Crew Quarters at Kennedy Space Center where they were quarantined until launch day.
Here they are leaving the Astronaut Crew Quarters for what was their first attempt to launch.
After a series of delays, Butch and Suni were able to get that ride up to the International Space Station!
Video of the Atlas V leaving SLC-41.
