Delhi, 1 April (H.S.): In her first press conference since returning to Earth, NASA astronaut Sunita Lyn “Suni” Williams, who spent approximately nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), expressed that she never felt confined during her mission. The 59-year-old astronaut stated, “It’s great being back home after being up there, but we never felt stuck.” Initially assigned to an eight-day mission alongside fellow astronaut Barry Eugene “Butch” Wilmore, their stay extended to 286 days due to technical issues with their spacecraft.
Williams and Wilmore acknowledged the unexpected attention their prolonged mission garnered, emphasizing their dedication to the task and prioritizing the mission over personal concerns. “We weren’t aware of what was going on down there on Earth. The world does not revolve around us; actually, we were revolving around the world,” Williams commented. She expressed gratitude for the public interest, considering it beneficial for space exploration.
Reflecting on their extended stay, both astronauts recognized they bore partial responsibility for the encountered issues and conveyed their willingness to fly on Boeing’s Starliner again. Wilmore candidly stated, “I’ll start and point the finger and I’ll blame me,” indicating that better inquiries could have changed the course of events. He added, “All the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this.”
Williams and Wilmore affirmed their faith in the Starliner program, vowing to address the challenges faced during their mission. Wilmore asserted, “We are going to rectify all the issues we encountered. We will fix them. We will make it work.” He also mentioned their scheduled meeting with Boeing program managers and engineers to further discuss Starliner-related issues.
In a recent reflection on their remarkable experience at the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Williams, alongside Wilmore and Hague, shared insights from their time in space, focusing on the scientific experiments they conducted. Williams described the experience as unforgettable and expressed her enthusiasm for reliving it, despite the inherent challenges of space travel.
Williams marveled at the breathtaking view of India from orbit, particularly the awe-inspiring sight of the Himalayas. She noted that each time their spacecraft passed over the region, they captured stunning photographs. The vibrant colors of the Indian landscape caught her attention as she observed the transition toward Gujarat and Mumbai. “It gives a beacon of ‘here it comes,’” she remarked, highlighting the network of lights radiating out from major cities to smaller ones. Looking ahead, she expressed excitement about the prospect of returning to India, particularly in light of plans for an Indian astronaut’s participation in the forthcoming Axiom Mission.
Upon returning to Earth, Williams shared heartwarming stories of reuniting with her family, including her husband, Michael J. Williams, and her dogs. She relished a grilled cheese sandwich upon her homecoming and noted her positive recovery trajectory, including running nearly three miles just weeks after her return.
Wilmore also reflected on the joy of reuniting with loved ones and together, they expressed gratitude to NASA and SpaceX for facilitating their journey home aboard the Dragon spacecraft on March 18. Their accounts not only capture the excitement of their time in space but also the warmth of reconnecting with family and the aspirations for future missions and collaborations in space exploration, particularly with India.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
