Back on Earth, Sunita Williams will miss everything in space

Indian American astronaut says she doesn’t want to lose that spark of inspiration and unique perspective one gets just living on ISS

By Arun Kumar

Finally set to return to Earth after being unexpectedly stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams says she would miss “Everything” about space.

Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore are finally set for a Tuesday evening 5:57 PM splashdown off the coast of Florida, a day ahead of schedule based on favorable weather conditions, NASA announced.

READ: Sunita Williams on historic third trip to Space Station (June 6th, 2024) 

“This has been Butch and mine third flight to the ISS. We helped put it together, we have been up here watching it change, “ Williams said at a press conference from the space station, where they were initially supposed to stay for just a week.

“Just living here gives us a unique perspective — not just outside the window, obviously — but on how to solve problems. I don’t want to lose that spark of inspiration and perspective when I leave so I am going to have to bottle it up, somehow,” she said.

Williams also spoke about the hardest part of being stranded in space for months without a clear date of return in sight. “It has been a rollercoaster for them [family and supporters], probably more than it has been for us. We are here, we have a mission. We do what we have to do every day. The hardest thing has been not knowing when we’d come back. All of that uncertainity has been the most difficult part,” she added.

Originally, Williams and Wilmore were scheduled for a short seven-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, but due to propulsion issues and helium leaks, the spacecraft was deemed unsafe for their return. As a result, NASA had to postpone their journey home while finding an alternative way to bring them back safely.

The two astronauts will now return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, accompanied by another American astronaut Nick Hague, and Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The original return was scheduled for Wednesday, but mission managers determined that an earlier landing would ensure smoother operations and help avoid potentially less favorable weather later in the week.

NASA will provide live coverage of the astronauts’ return journey on NASA TV, NASA’s official website and NASA’s YouTube channel starting at 10:45 PM EST Monday.

After landing in Florida, the astronauts will be transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they will undergo medical evaluations to assess their physical condition after prolonged space exposure. They will also undergo post-mission debriefings to share insights from their extended stay and follow recovery protocols to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity.

Earlier, Williams and Wilmore received an unexpected welcome on Sunday when an “alien” greeted them upon docking with the SpaceX crew at the ISS, following their nine-month extended stay.

ISS shared footage on X showing Hague entering the spacecraft’s hatch wearing an alien face mask. The video captures him floating towards Williams and Wilmore, who respond with smiles, before he gestures to something off-screen and moves away.

The crew arrived after departing from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7.03 pm ET on Friday, March 14.

After Sunita Williams opened the hatch, the ship’s bell rang as new crew members entered, exchanging handshakes and embraces. The 11-person Expedition 72 crew assembled for a brief communication with mission control, with Hague removing his alien mask.

Williams, who documented the reunion with photographs, addressed mission control following the greetings. “Houston, thank you for tuning in this early morning,” Williams said. “It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive. Thank you so much,” Williams added.

Previously, Nasa astronauts have worn costumes including Superman, Spiderman, a Minion, Darth Vader, Waldo and the Mario brothers.

NASA indicated that a “crew handover period” is scheduled as astronauts prepare for their safe return. “Crew-10 will join the Expedition 72 crew of Nasa astronauts Nick Hague, Don Petitt, Sunita Williams, and Butch Wilmore, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. The number of crew aboard the space station will increase to 11 people before Crew-9 members Hague, Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov return to Earth following the crew handover period,” it said.