Indian-Origin American Astronaut Sunita Williams Safely Reaches ISS

The Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida successfully launched NASA’s Boeing Starliner, which has now safely reached the International Space Station. The spacecraft was piloted by two veteran NASA astronauts: Sunita Williams, who served as the pilot, and Butch Wilmore as the crewmate. Williams made history as the first female to pilot a crewed spacecraft on its maiden voyage. She is also known for previously carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh and the Bhagavad Gita to space.

Upon reaching the ISS, a video released by NASA featured Williams dancing with joy, celebrating with her crewmate, and being greeted by the seven astronauts aboard the station. This joyous moment occurred just after Boeing Starliner docked at the ISS’s Harmony module.

Image Courtesy of Instagram/ @nasa

The mission aimed to demonstrate Boeing Starliner as a viable alternative to the SpaceX Crew Module for ferrying astronauts under NASA’s commercial crew programme.

Now that the veteran astronauts have safely reached the ISS, they will participate in a week-long stay to assist with tests and conduct scientific experiments. Williams and Wilmore will conclude their journey with a landing on solid ground, rather than the ocean landings of previous missions.

Who is Sunita Williams?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NASA (@nasa)

Sunita Lyn Williams was born to an Indian-origin family on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, and raised in Massachusetts. She graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1987 and became a naval aviator in 1989, serving as a helicopter pilot flying the SH-60 Seahawk during her military career. Selected by NASA in 1998, she joined the team of space explorers. Williams holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman, with seven to her name. She and her husband, Michael, enjoy spending time with their dogs, working out, and hiking.

Lead Image Courtesy of Instagram/ @nasa