NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have successfully completed a crucial dress rehearsal ahead of their historic launch on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, scheduled for no earlier than May 6, according to NASA officials. The rehearsal, which took place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida, involved a series of launch day milestones including suiting up, operating flight deck simulators, and testing the software to be used during the actual launch.

During the rehearsal, the Starliner spacecraft, mounted on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, went through a countdown procedure. This is a significant step towards certifying the Starliner for six-month missions to the International Space Station (ISS), potentially starting as early as 2025.

In a blog post, NASA officials mentioned that the Crew Flight Test (CFT), which is the first Starliner mission with astronauts, successfully passed its latest flight readiness review on April 25. This review ensures that all systems are in place for the upcoming mission.

The two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have now arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to begin preparations for their historic launch to the ISS. They landed at the Launch and Landing Facility after a short flight from Houston's Ellington Field. The launch is scheduled to take place from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The one-week mission to the ISS will serve as a final shakedown cruise for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, testing its readiness for operational crew flights. Following the mission, the Starliner will parachute back to Earth and make a land-based landing in the southwestern United States.

This upcoming launch marks an important milestone in the collaboration between NASA and Boeing, aiming to provide safe and reliable transportation for astronauts to and from the International Space Station.