🚀 After some nail-biting moments, Boeing's Starliner capsule finally made its grand entrance at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday! 🎉 This marks a huge milestone for Boeing's astronaut flight debut, carrying NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.
The journey wasn't all smooth sailing (or should we say, smooth space-ing 😉). The capsule had some last-minute thruster troubles that almost spoiled the party, but the team pulled through like absolute champs! 💪 Just over a day after liftoff, the Starliner docked 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the Indian Ocean, and the space celebration began.
\"Nice to be attached to the big city in the sky,\" Wilmore said as the spacecraft linked up. And what a reunion it was! Williams entered the ISS first, busting a move to some music 🎶, followed by Wilmore snapping his fingers to the beat. They were greeted with open arms by the seven residents aboard the ISS.
\"It was such a great welcome, a little dance party,\" Williams shared. \"That's the way to get things going!\" 💃🕺
The Starliner is set to chill at the ISS for at least eight days before heading back home to the western U.S. This mission is a big deal for Boeing, paving the way for more astronaut flights in the future. 🌌
Even with the hiccups, the teamwork and problem-solving were out of this world! 🌠 It's moments like these that remind us of how far we've come in space exploration—and how much farther we're going. Onwards and upwards! ✨
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Boeing's astronaut capsule arrives at the International Space Station
cgtn.com