Sunita Williams: The Trailblazing Indian-Origin Astronaut Who Made History
New Delhi, March 19 – NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who had previously undertaken two space missions, may not have anticipated the extended wait for her return during her third mission. This unexpected delay has now become a remarkable chapter in space exploration history.
After spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Williams, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, returned safely to Earth early Wednesday, as per agency report. The duo, along with two other astronauts, bid farewell to the ISS and boarded a SpaceX spacecraft for their journey home.
This mission marked Williams' third spaceflight, bringing her total time spent in space to an impressive 608 days. The 59-year-old former U.S. Navy captain was born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio. Her father, Deepak Pandya, hailed from Jhoolasan village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, while her mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, has Slovenian roots.
Embracing her diverse cultural heritage, Williams has carried symbolic items representing her background to space, including samosas, the Slovenian flag, and an idol of Lord Ganesha. Her latest space mission, which began in June last year alongside Butch Wilmore, solidified her place in history as the female astronaut with the most spacewalks. Over her three missions, she has now accumulated a total of 62 hours and nine minutes of extravehicular activity, surpassing the previous record of 60 hours and 21 minutes held by astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Although Williams was always passionate about science, her childhood dream was to become a veterinarian. Her aspirations shifted when her brother, Jay, joined the U.S. Naval Academy, inspiring her to pursue a career in the Navy. It was around the time when the iconic film Top Gun was making waves, and Williams aspired to become a fighter pilot. However, she eventually specialized in helicopters instead of fighter jets.
In 1989, she became a Naval Aviator and was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 in Norfolk, Virginia. She was later deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf as part of operations Desert Shield and Provide Comfort. During her service, she played a crucial role in transporting troops and humanitarian aid, showcasing her leadership skills and ability to operate in challenging conditions—qualities that later contributed to her selection as an astronaut.
NASA selected Williams as an astronaut in 1998, following which she trained at the Johnson Space Center and worked with the Russian space agency on ISS missions. She embarked on her first mission on December 9, 2006, aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, participating in ISS Expeditions 14 and 15, spending a record 195 days in orbit.
Her second mission took place in 2012 when she traveled to the ISS aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. During this four-month mission, she became only the second woman to command the ISS, overseeing its operations. She also completed a triathlon in space and took an iconic photograph of herself virtually "touching" the Sun while conducting a spacewalk.
Williams made history on April 16, 2007, by becoming the first person to run a marathon in space. She completed the Boston Marathon on the ISS treadmill in four hours and 24 minutes, demonstrating the possibilities of human endurance in microgravity.
Following her missions, Williams visited India at least three times, in 2007 and 2013, among others, and was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2008.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to Williams, referring to her as "India’s daughter" and extending an invitation for her to visit the country.
Williams is married to Michael J. Williams, a federal police officer.
