NASA astronaut Sunita Williams expressed her admiration for India’s beauty from space and her desire to visit her father’s homeland during a recent press conference. Following her return from the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, Williams shared her experiences and hopes for future collaborations with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
“India is amazing,” Williams stated, highlighting the breathtaking views of the Himalayas and the vibrant lights of Indian cities at night. She emphasized the distinct visual transition from the Himalayas down to the Indian plains, noting the colorful landscape and the beacon-like presence of the Gujarat and Mumbai fishing fleets.
Williams expressed her enthusiasm for connecting with the Indian people and sharing her space exploration experiences. She specifically mentioned her excitement about the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which will carry Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut after Rakesh Sharma, to the ISS. “I hope…I’m gonna be going back to my father’s home country and visiting with people,” she said, anticipating opportunities to collaborate and inspire.
Shukla’s mission is significant, and Williams hopes to meet with him and share their experiences to promote space exploration in India. “It’s a great country, another wonderful democracy that’s trying to put its foot in the space countries, and we’d love to be part of that and help them along,” she remarked.
Williams’s connection to India is deeply personal, as her father, Deepak Pandya, hails from Gujarat. In response to a suggestion from fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore about bringing the crew to India, she humorously agreed, promising to introduce them to spicy Indian cuisine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the return of Williams and her Crew-9 colleagues, praising their resilience and inspiration. “Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions,” Modi stated on X, highlighting Williams’s pioneering spirit.
The Crew-9 mission, which included Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, concluded on March 18 with a successful splashdown off the Florida coast. Their extended stay on the ISS, initially planned for eight days, stretched to over nine months due to technical issues with their spacecraft. Modi emphasized the perseverance and technological prowess demonstrated by the crew and those who ensured their safe return.
