The highly anticipated launch of the Boeing Starliner, carrying astronaut Sunita Williams for her third space mission, faced an unexpected delay due to a technical issue. Scheduled to depart from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, the event was poised to mark a significant milestone in space exploration, especially for Williams, a prominent figure for aspiring female astronauts.

Just 90 minutes before liftoff, the launch of the Atlas V rocket was halted due to an off-nominal condition involving an oxygen relief valve, as announced by NASA. Williams, along with fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, safely disembarked from the spacecraft following the postponement.

Williams, a trailblazer in space endeavors, has already spent an impressive 322 days in space and previously held the record for the most hours spent on spacewalks by a woman, a distinction later surpassed by Peggy Whitson.

The mission was poised to be historic as Williams would have become the first woman to embark on the maiden crewed voyage of a new space shuttle. Her previous space journey, which commenced on December 9, 2006, and concluded on June 22, 2007, saw her achieve a world record for women with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes.

Despite some nervousness, the 59-year-old astronaut expressed confidence in the new spacecraft, having contributed to its design in collaboration with NASA and Boeing engineers. "When I reach the International Space Station, it will be like going back home," Williams remarked, underscoring her deep connection to space exploration and her enduring commitment to pushing the boundaries of human exploration beyond Earth's bounds.

The highly anticipated launch of the Boeing Starliner, carrying astronaut Sunita Williams for her third space mission, faced an unexpected delay due to a technical issue. Scheduled to depart from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, the event was poised to mark a significant milestone in space exploration, especially for Williams, a prominent figure for aspiring female astronauts.

Just 90 minutes before liftoff, the launch of the Atlas V rocket was halted due to an off-nominal condition involving an oxygen relief valve, as announced by NASA. Williams, along with fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, safely disembarked from the spacecraft following the postponement.

Williams, a trailblazer in space endeavors, has already spent an impressive 322 days in space and previously held the record for the most hours spent on spacewalks by a woman, a distinction later surpassed by Peggy Whitson.

The mission was poised to be historic as Williams would have become the first woman to embark on the maiden crewed voyage of a new space shuttle. Her previous space journey, which commenced on December 9, 2006, and concluded on June 22, 2007, saw her achieve a world record for women with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes.

Despite some nervousness, the 59-year-old astronaut expressed confidence in the new spacecraft, having contributed to its design in collaboration with NASA and Boeing engineers. "When I reach the International Space Station, it will be like going back home," Williams remarked, underscoring her deep connection to space exploration and her enduring commitment to pushing the boundaries of human exploration beyond Earth's bounds.