New Delhi, March 19: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed immense joy over the safe return of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her Crew-9 members, highlighting their remarkable achievement in pushing the boundaries of human endurance and perseverance in space.
Williams, along with fellow NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which splashed down in the waters off Tallahassee, Florida.
"Thrilled to witness the safe return of NASA's #Crew9! The crew, including India's own Sunita Williams, has truly rewritten the history of human endurance and resilience in space. Sunita Williams' extraordinary journey, her relentless dedication, and her indomitable spirit will inspire millions worldwide," Singh shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He also celebrated the moment as a victory for space enthusiasts and the global community. "Her courage and achievements make us all proud. Congratulations to Sunita and her team, and a heartfelt thank you to all those who contributed to bringing them safely back to Earth," he added.
For Williams and Wilmore, test pilots for Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, what was originally planned as an eight-day mission turned into an extended stay of over nine months, as technical issues such as helium leaks and thruster failures delayed their return. The spacecraft they were to return in launched without them in September.
Williams and Wilmore finally departed the International Space Station, their home since June, on Tuesday, boarding a SpaceX capsule with two other astronauts. After undocking, the capsule splashed down off Florida’s coast on Wednesday morning, concluding a remarkable 286 days in space. This mission marked Williams’ third spaceflight, bringing her cumulative total to an impressive 608 days spent in space.
A former US Navy captain, Williams, 59, was born to a Gujarati father, Deepak Pandya, from Jhulasan in Mehsana district, and Slovenian mother Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio.
New Delhi, March 19: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed immense joy over the safe return of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her Crew-9 members, highlighting their remarkable achievement in pushing the boundaries of human endurance and perseverance in space.
Williams, along with fellow NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which splashed down in the waters off Tallahassee, Florida.
"Thrilled to witness the safe return of NASA's #Crew9! The crew, including India's own Sunita Williams, has truly rewritten the history of human endurance and resilience in space. Sunita Williams' extraordinary journey, her relentless dedication, and her indomitable spirit will inspire millions worldwide," Singh shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He also celebrated the moment as a victory for space enthusiasts and the global community. "Her courage and achievements make us all proud. Congratulations to Sunita and her team, and a heartfelt thank you to all those who contributed to bringing them safely back to Earth," he added.
For Williams and Wilmore, test pilots for Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, what was originally planned as an eight-day mission turned into an extended stay of over nine months, as technical issues such as helium leaks and thruster failures delayed their return. The spacecraft they were to return in launched without them in September.
Williams and Wilmore finally departed the International Space Station, their home since June, on Tuesday, boarding a SpaceX capsule with two other astronauts. After undocking, the capsule splashed down off Florida’s coast on Wednesday morning, concluding a remarkable 286 days in space. This mission marked Williams’ third spaceflight, bringing her cumulative total to an impressive 608 days spent in space.
A former US Navy captain, Williams, 59, was born to a Gujarati father, Deepak Pandya, from Jhulasan in Mehsana district, and Slovenian mother Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio.
