Houston/Ahmedabad, March 19:
NASA astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams safely touched down on Earth after a historic 286-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), sparking celebrations in her ancestral village of Jhulasan, Gujarat.
Williams, along with Barry "Butch" Wilmore and fellow crew members, landed off the Florida coast in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule around 6:30 PM IST on March 18, 2025.
Originally slated for an eight-day mission in Boeing’s Starliner, the duo ended up spending over nine months in space due to technical snags.
The astronauts were airlifted to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, for routine medical checks and debriefing. Williams is expected to meet her family once the health protocols are completed.
Back home, Jhulasan village erupted in joy with villagers performing aarti and special prayers at the temple. Her family in Ahmedabad performed a yagna, praying for her safe return. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called her "India’s daughter" and tweeted, “Earth missed you, Suni. Proud moment for every Indian.”
NASA officials lauded Williams and her team’s resilience, calling them “exceptional professionals who turned challenges into opportunities.”
Her space journey now totals 608 days — making her one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts.
Williams is likely to connect with her family virtually soon and plans a personal reunion once NASA’s medical protocols allow.
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