NASA astronaut Sunita Williams expressed her admiration for India from space and voiced her hopes of visiting her father’s homeland to share her space exploration experiences. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Williams reflected on her time aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the breathtaking views of India, particularly the Himalayas.
“India is amazing. Every time we went over the Himalayas, Butch (Wilmore) got some incredible pictures of them. It’s just amazing,” Williams said, recounting her experiences from space. The 59-year-old astronaut described the geological formations in India as a “ripple” from the collision of tectonic plates, creating a visually stunning landscape filled with a spectrum of colours.
Williams also noted the striking visual of Gujarat and Mumbai’s fishing fleets off the coast, as well as the vibrant network of lights across India’s cities visible from space, especially during the night.
Her observations echoed the famous words of India’s first astronaut, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma, who, when asked by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi about how India looked from space in 1984, replied, “Sare jahan se achcha.”
In her remarks, Williams also expressed excitement about returning to India, the country of her father’s origin. “I’m going to be going back to my father’s home country and visiting with people, getting excited about the first, or not the first, but the Indian national who’s going up on the Axiom Mission coming up, pretty awesome,” she said. She was referring to Shubhanshu Shukla, the Lucknow-born astronaut, who will be part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) and become India’s second astronaut to go to space, following Rakesh Sharma.
Williams further highlighted the significance of Shukla’s upcoming mission, stating that he would serve as a “hometown hero” for India and would inspire people with his perspectives on the ISS. She expressed her hope to meet Shukla and share their experiences with people in India.
Sunita Williams’ father, Deepak Pandya, hailed from Gujarat and moved to the U.S. in 1958, where he pursued his medical training. Williams was born in Ohio to Deepak and Ursuline Bonnie Pandya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Williams and her fellow Crew-9 members back to Earth after their extended mission, calling their perseverance and determination an inspiration to millions. “The Earth missed you,” Modi posted on X, celebrating their safe return.
The astronauts, including Williams, Nick Hague, Wilmore, and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth on March 18 aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, after a prolonged mission to the ISS. Their mission, initially meant to last eight days, was extended to over nine months due to technical issues with their spacecraft, highlighting their resilience and dedication to the mission.
Williams’ return has sparked further interest in space exploration, especially as India continues to expand its presence in space through initiatives like the Axiom Mission.
