Space and Tech
LIFTOFF! NASA Astronauts Pilot First Starliner Crewed Test to Station
Exciting news as NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams successfully launch on the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station! #NASA #Starliner #SpaceExploration
Exciting news from the world of space exploration! NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have successfully lifted off on the first crewed flight test aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Their mission: to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch took place on Wednesday at 10:52 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This significant milestone is part of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, which aims to validate the Starliner system for future rotational missions to the ISS. The flight test will provide essential data on the Starliner’s transportation system, launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, and in-orbit operations capabilities.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his excitement about this historic first test flight, stating, “Boeing’s Starliner marks a new chapter of American exploration. Human spaceflight is a daring task – but that’s why it’s worth doing. It’s an exciting time for NASA, our commercial partners, and the future of exploration.”
Throughout the mission, Boeing’s team in Houston will monitor the spacecraft’s automatic maneuvers, ensuring everything goes according to plan. NASA teams will also closely follow the operations at the ISS from their Mission Control Center.
Once the Starliner docks autonomously to the station’s forward-facing port on Thursday at approximately 12:15 p.m., Wilmore and Williams will begin conducting various tests to verify the spacecraft’s performance. They will test the environmental control system, the displays and control system, and maneuver the thrusters, among other tasks.
Upon their safe arrival at the ISS, Wilmore and Williams will join the current Expedition 71 crew, which consists of NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko.
If you’re eager to follow this exciting journey, NASA has provided a schedule of upcoming events for fans to watch:
- On Thursday, June 6, coverage will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The target docking time is 12:15 p.m., followed by the opening of the hatch at 2 p.m. Welcome remarks will take place at 2:20 p.m.
- A post-docking news conference will occur at 3:30 p.m. NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Jeff Arend, manager for systems engineering and integration at NASA’s International Space Station Office, and Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program, will participate in the conference.
- On Saturday, June 8, at 8:50 a.m., astronauts Wilmore and Williams will provide a tour of the Starliner spacecraft.
- On Monday, June 10, at 11 a.m., Williams will speak to students from Sunita L. Williams Elementary School in Needham, Massachusetts.
- Finally, on Tuesday, June 11, at 3:15 p.m., Wilmore will speak to students from Tennessee Tech University.
These events will be covered on NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Butch Wilmore, the mission commander, brings extensive experience to the crew. He has already completed two spaceflights and spent a total of 178 days in space. Suni Williams, the spacecraft pilot, has also amassed an impressive track record, with 322 days in space across two missions. She has conducted seven spacewalks and holds more than 3,000 flight hours.
This extraordinary NASA-Boeing collaboration through the Commercial Crew Program demonstrates the agency’s commitment to safe and cost-effective transportation to and from the ISS. Such partnerships pave the way for expanded access to low Earth orbit, enabling more scientific research, commercial opportunities, and ultimately, future missions to the Moon and Mars.
So, get ready to witness history in the making as Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams embark on this crucial mission to the ISS. Let’s cheer them on, support their progress, and celebrate their safe return to Earth! Go Starliner! Go, Butch and Suni!
Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Crew program at:
https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew
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Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
🕒 [UPDATE] Solar Arrays Successfully Deployed
NASA confirms Orion’s solar arrays have deployed, providing power for the spacecraft as it prepares for its journey beyond Earth orbit.
Artemis II Successfully Launches
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA has successfully launched its Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed journey toward the Moon in more than 50 years.
The powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, carrying four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back.
On board are Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The mission is already being hailed as a major milestone in NASA’s effort to return humans to deep space.
Shortly after liftoff, the Orion spacecraft successfully reached orbit and deployed its solar arrays, beginning its journey that will eventually send the crew on a translunar trajectory toward the Moon. 
Artemis II is a lunar flyby mission, meaning astronauts will not land but will travel farther from Earth than any human mission in decades while testing critical systems needed for future landings.
The mission also marks several historic firsts, including the first woman and the first person of color—Victor Glover—to travel into lunar space.
NASA says the mission is a key step toward future lunar landings and long-term plans to establish a human presence on the Moon later this decade.
🚀 What’s Next:
A critical engine burn in the coming days will send Orion out of Earth orbit and toward the Moon, continuing humanity’s return to deep space exploration.
🔗 Related External Links & Sources
For official updates and in-depth mission details, visit the following trusted sources:
- NASA: Artemis II Mission Overview
- NASA Artemis Program (Return to the Moon)
- Orion Spacecraft – Mission Details
- Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket Overview
- Kennedy Space Center – Launch Operations
- Watch NASA Live Coverage and Replays
🧾 Sources
- NASA official launch coverage and mission updates
- NASA Artemis II press materials and briefings
- NASA Kennedy Space Center launch operations updates
Stay with STM Daily News for live updates on Artemis II.
Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Published: April 1, 2026 | By: STM Daily News
Source: NASA/John Kraus
Artemis II countdown is underway
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The countdown has officially begun for Artemis II, NASA’s highly anticipated return to crewed lunar missions, marking a historic step toward sending humans back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
At precisely 4:44 p.m. EDT, the countdown clock started ticking at Kennedy Space Center, targeting a 6:24 p.m. launch on Wednesday, April 1. The mission will be the first crewed flight of NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. The Artemis II mission marks NASA’s first crewed journey toward the Moon since the Apollo era, using the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft.
The mission is part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence for future Mars exploration.
Launch operations are being conducted at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the historic site of previous Apollo and Space Shuttle missions.
🚀 Final Preparations Underway
Inside the Rocco Petrone Launch Control Center, engineers and launch teams are actively powering up flight systems, verifying communications, and preparing for one of the most complex fueling operations ever attempted.
The rocket will be loaded with hundreds of thousands of gallons of super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, a delicate process requiring precise timing and coordination.
Meanwhile, at Launch Complex 39B, crews are filling the sound suppression system—a massive water tank designed to release a high-volume deluge at liftoff, protecting the rocket from extreme acoustic energy generated during launch.
Source: NASA / Bill Ingalls
👨🚀 Crew in Quarantine Ahead of Launch
The four-person crew remains in quarantine at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building, undergoing final medical checks and mission briefings.
- Reid Wiseman – Commander
- Victor Glover – Pilot
- Christina Koch – Mission Specialist
- Jeremy Hansen – Mission Specialist (Canadian Space Agency)
Glover, a Southern California native and Ontario High School graduate, is set to make history as the first Black astronaut to travel to lunar space—bringing a powerful local connection to this global mission.
The crew is following a controlled sleep and nutrition schedule while receiving continuous updates on launch conditions and spacecraft readiness.
🌤️ Weather Conditions 80% Favorable
NASA and U.S. Space Force weather teams are closely monitoring conditions ahead of fueling operations. Current forecasts show an 80% chance of favorable weather, with concerns focused on potential cloud cover and high winds.
Weather will continue to be evaluated as the countdown progresses.
📺 How to Watch the Launch Live
NASA will provide live coverage throughout launch day:
- 7:45 a.m. EDT – Tanking operations coverage begins (NASA YouTube)
- 12:50 p.m. EDT – Full launch coverage begins on NASA+
Viewers can also follow along via NASA’s official social media platforms for real-time updates.
🚀 Artemis II Mission Snapshot
- Mission: Artemis II
- Agency: NASA
- Launch Vehicle: Space Launch System (SLS)
- Spacecraft: Orion
- Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center (LC-39B)
- Mission Duration: ~10 days
- Objective: Crewed lunar flyby (no landing)
- Commander: Reid Wiseman
- Pilot: Victor Glover
- Mission Specialists: Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen
🌕 A Mission Decades in the Making
Artemis II will send astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back, serving as a critical test flight for future lunar landings under NASA’s Artemis program.
The mission is designed to validate deep space navigation, life support systems, and spacecraft performance—laying the groundwork for Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface.
As the countdown continues, all eyes are now on Florida’s Space Coast for what could become one of the most significant spaceflight milestones of the 21st century.
🧾 Sources & References
- NASA – Artemis II Mission Updates and Press Materials
- NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch Operations Briefings
- NASA Artemis Program Overview
- Official NASA Broadcast and Launch Coverage
For more details on NASA’s Artemis II mission and live launch coverage, explore the official resources below:
🔗 Related External Links & Sources
- NASA: Artemis II Mission Overview
- NASA Artemis Program Explained
- Kennedy Space Center Official Site
- Orion Spacecraft Details
- Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket Overview
- Watch Artemis II Live on NASA YouTube
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Artemis II?
Artemis II is NASA’s first crewed mission in its Artemis program, sending astronauts on a flight around the Moon to test systems for future lunar landings.
When is the Artemis II launch?
The mission is targeting a launch on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Will Artemis II land on the Moon?
No, Artemis II is a lunar flyby mission designed to test spacecraft systems before a future landing mission.
Who is Victor Glover?
Victor Glover is a NASA astronaut and Artemis II pilot who will become the first Black astronaut to travel to lunar space.
Stay with STM Daily News for continuing coverage of Artemis II and NASA’s return to the Moon.
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Last Updated on February 10, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Valerie Thomas is a true pioneer in the world of science and technology. A NASA engineer and physicist, she is best known for inventing the illusion transmitter, a groundbreaking device that creates 3D images using concave mirrors. This invention laid the foundation for modern 3D imaging and virtual reality technologies.
Beyond her inventions, Thomas broke barriers as an African American woman in STEM, mentoring countless young scientists and advocating for diversity in science and engineering. Her work at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center helped advance satellite technology and data visualization, making her contributions both innovative and enduring.
In our latest short video, we highlight Valerie Thomas’ remarkable journey—from her early passion for science to her groundbreaking work at NASA. Watch and be inspired by a true STEM pioneer whose legacy continues to shape the future of space and technology.
🎥 Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/P5XTgpcAoHw
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Every Friday, STM Daily News shines a light on brilliant minds history overlooked.
Forgotten Genius Fridays is a weekly collection of short videos and articles dedicated to inventors, innovators, scientists, and creators whose impact changed the world—but whose names were often left out of the textbooks.
From life-saving inventions and cultural breakthroughs to game-changing ideas buried by bias, our series digs up the truth behind the minds that mattered.
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