The 59-year-old Williams created history by becoming the first woman to fly on the maiden mission of a new human-rated spacecraft.

The crew was launched yesterday to fly aboard the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket from the Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The flight comes after several delays over the years.

The first human flight was slated on May 7, but was delayed over a helium leak and later due to an issue with the ground power supply at the ULA.

This was the third attempt and the weather was 90 per cent favourable for the launch. Butch, 61, was commanding the flight, and Williams, was piloting the flight.

The duo will stay at the International Space Station station for about a week before returning to Earth aboard the reusable crew capsule. The Starliner mission aims to carry astronauts and cargo for future NASA missions to low Earth orbit, and beyond.