New Delhi:
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’ cousin today said she was “happy” that she has returned to Earth safely after an unexpected nine-month stay in space.
“That moment was surreal,” her cousin, Falguni Pandya, told NDTV, referring to the SpaceX Dragon spaceship, which was carrying Ms Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore, making a soft splashdown off Florida’s coast this morning.
Ms Williams, 59, and Mr Wilmore, 62, undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST yesterday to begin a 17-hour trip back to Earth.
They flew to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5 last year, on what was supposed to be a days-long roundtrip to test out Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed flight. However, the spaceship developed propulsion problems and was deemed unfit to fly back and instead returned uncrewed.
Ms Pandya, who spoke to The Hindkesharifrom a temple after her cousin headed home, expressed her gratitude to God for making “everything work well”.
She also confirmed Ms Williams will soon visit India.
“We are also planning on going on vacation together. There is going to be a lot of family time,” she said.
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 59-year-old astronaut “makes the best” of every situation she is in.
“She is a role model for all of us. When life throws a lemon at you, make a lemonade,” she said.
