Sunita Williams, the Indian-origin astronaut who will fly into space for the third time on Tuesday, carried the Bhagwad Gita during her previous flights to space.
When the 58-year-old astronaut flies into space on Tuesday as a pilot aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for its first crewed test flight, she will also carry her “lucky charm” – a Lord Ganesha idol – with her.
Williams told NDTV that she is more spiritual than religious.
She said she would take a statue of Lord Ganesh with her on the commercial crew flight, saying Ganesh is her good luck charm and she was happy to have Lord Ganesh with her in space, NDTV reported.
According to the report, although she is a little apprehensive, she is not bothered by flying in a new spacecraft. “When I reach the International Space Station, it will be like returning home.”
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will depart from Cape Canaveral, Florida, for the International Space Station.
The spacecraft will carry Williams, 58, and Butch Wilmore to the ISS. It will start on Tuesday at 8:04 AM IST.
The mission has been postponed for several years due to setbacks in the development of the spacecraft.
“We are all here because we are all ready. Our friends and family have heard about it and we have talked about it and they are happy and proud that we are part of the process to resolve all of this,” the spokesperson said. BBC quoted Williams as follows.
If successful, Boeing will become the second private company to provide crew transport to and from the ISS, after Elon Musk's SpaceX.
“Design and development are difficult – especially on a human spacecraft,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and Starliner program manager at Boeing, during a news briefing on Thursday.
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Published: May 6, 2024 6:47 PM IST