New Delhi: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' family today said they were "happy" that she has returned to Earth safely after an unexpected nine-month stay in space.
'That moment was surreal," Falguni Pandya, her sister-in-law, told NDTV, referring to the SpaceX Dragon spaceship, which brought back Ms Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore, making a soft splashdown off Florida's coast this morning.
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'Will Throw Samosa Party': Sunita Williams' Family On Her Homecoming
'Will Throw Samosa Party': Sunita Williams' Family On Her HomecomingSunita Williams returned to Earth today after an unexpected nine-month stay in space.
Reported by:
Parmeshwar Bawa
Edited by:
Pushkar Tiwari
World News
Mar 19, 2025 09:04 am IST
Read Time:
5 mins
Sunita Williams flew to the ISS in June last year
New Delhi:
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' family today said they were "happy" that she has returned to Earth safely after an unexpected nine-month stay in space.
"That moment was surreal," Falguni Pandya, her sister-in-law, told NDTV, referring to the SpaceX Dragon spaceship, which brought back Ms Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore, making a soft splashdown off Florida's coast this morning.
Ms Pandya also confirmed that Ms Williams will soon visit India.
"We don't have exact dates, but she's definitely going to come to India soon. I hope this year," she said.
She said India is her father's ancestral land, referring to Deepak Pandya, who was a resident of Gujarat, and that she's "very connected" to the country.
"She feels the love from India and Indians, and I know she will come back. It's just a matter of timing, schedule and logistics," Ms Pandya said.
Speaking about the NASA astronaut returning home after 286 days in space, she said, "We are also planning on going on vacation together. There is going to be a lot of family time."
Asked if Ms Williams would go to space again or be the first person to land on Mars, Ms Pandya said it would be "her choice".
Speaking about Ms Williams' extended stay at the space station, Ms Pandya said the astronaut "makes the best" of every situation she is in.
She is a role model for all of us," she said.
She also said that she had sent the popular Indian sweet, Kaju Katli, to Sunita Williams on her birthday. The astronaut had marked her 59th birthday in space on September 19.
Ms Pandya also said that Ms Williams had asked her for pictures when she told her she was visiting the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.
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