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NASA Astronaut to Bring Personal and Historic Items on International Space Station Mission
A NASA astronaut, Sunita “Suni” Williams, has the unique opportunity to bring items inspired by the name of her spacecraft when she embarks on a journey to the International Space Station next month. Williams, along with her fellow NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore, will be part of Boeing’s first Crew Flight Test (CFT) aboard its CST-100 Starliner capsule. The astronaut will unveil the “Calypso”-related items while in orbit, paying homage to explorers and the vessels they sailed on.
Significance of the Name “Calypso”
Williams, a captain in the U.S. Navy known for her fondness of the ocean, chose to name her spacecraft after Jacques Cousteau’s research ship, Calypso. In Greek mythology, Calypso is the daughter of Atlas and is associated with exploration and discovery. It is worth noting that Boeing’s Starliner is launched into space using United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rockets.
Cargo and Personal Items
Boeing recently completed the packing of Calypso for the upcoming CFT launch, scheduled for April 22. The spacecraft will carry a total of 759 pounds (344 kilograms) of cargo, with 452 pounds (205 kilograms) from Boeing and 307 pounds (139 kilograms) from NASA. The cargo includes essential supplies such as vehicle tools, hygiene items, emergency equipment, food, clothing, exercise gear, and medical supplies.
Williams has included personal items such as t-shirts from the Naval Academy and a local school named after her, a diver pin, U.S. Navy astronaut wings, dog tags for her Labrador retrievers, and colorful socks inspired by astronaut Shannon Lucid. On the other hand, Wilmore will bring special gold rings resembling U.S. Navy astronaut wings, along with items from his alma maters, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee.
Commendable Inclusions by Boeing and NASA
In addition to the astronauts’ personal mementos, Boeing and NASA have selected items to be carried on the mission, including a flash drive containing over 3,400 space-themed artworks created by students globally. The cargo also includes American flags, mission patches, commemorative medallions, and NASA Silver Snoopy pins to be distributed as mementos to those involved in the mission’s success.
If the CFT mission is completed successfully, it will pave the way for the CST-100 Starliner to enter regular service in transporting crews to and from the space station. This mission marks a significant step forward in space exploration and collaboration.
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