NASA Astronauts Suit Up for Crew Flight Test Launch to Station

Image of NASA astronauts the crew suit-up room inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore inside — From left, NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore perform checks of their Boeing spacesuits in the crew suit-up room inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are being outfitted in their Boeing spacesuits inside the crew suit-up room at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as preparations continue for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test.

The Boeing Starliner suits are specifically tailored for this launch and are 40% lighter than previous spacesuits worn by NASA astronauts.

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronaut Butch Wilmore checks his Boeing spacesuit in the crew suit-up room inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Photo credit: NASA Television

The astronauts say they’re feeling optimistic about today’s launch.

Once suited, Wilmore and Williams usually play the ritual card game that occurs before any human spaceflight mission launching from the Florida spaceport. The point of the game is that the commander must use up all his or her bad luck before the launch, so the crew can only leave for the launch pad once the commander loses. However during today’s game, they played rock, paper, scissors.

The duo have been in quarantine for more than a month.

Launch is scheduled for 10:52 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

NASA’s mission coverage is underway on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.