New Delhi: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 5 last year due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner, received a surprise from her colleagues on Earth.
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, a veteran of three ISS expeditions, met former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino during his visit to India. The two snapped a selfie and sent it to Sunita Williams, who has now spent eight months in orbit.
A Heartfelt Gesture from Colleagues
“She (Sunita) is one of the happiest colleagues I have ever had. Now she has been in orbit for almost eight months. Yesterday, I met my colleague Mike Massimino from the United States, and we took a selfie and sent it to Sunita Williams,” Oleg Artemyev told NDTV.
“She replied saying she is very happy,” he added. Artemyev and Massimino also assured her that they are looking forward to meeting her in March.
NASA’s Plan to Bring Williams Back Home
Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore have been aboard the ISS since June 2023. NASA initially deemed returning them on Starliner too risky, opting instead to send the spacecraft back to Earth uncrewed on September 6.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Sunita Williams confirmed that Crew-10 is scheduled to launch from Earth on March 12, with plans to bring them back home on March 19.
The Life of an Astronaut: Challenges & Motivation
When asked about the difficulties of an astronaut’s life, Cosmonaut Artemyev reflected on the demanding nature of the profession.
“The life of a cosmonaut is quite complicated. You have to spend a lot of time training, practicing, and staying motivated. This job requires individuals who are constantly looking for new challenges,” he said.
Meeting PM Modi & Strengthening India-Russia Ties
During his visit to India, Artemyev had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a symbolic gesture, he presented PM Modi with both Russian and Indian flags, reinforcing the strong ties between the two nations.
“It was a great pleasure to meet a friend of our Russian President, Vladimir Putin. As we say in Russia, ‘A friend of my friend is my friend,'” he remarked.
Message to Indian Youth: Dream Big & Keep Learning
Sharing a message for India’s youth, Artemyev encouraged students to read, dream, and learn.
“Read a lot, dream big, and study hard… Learn, learn, learn,” he advised.
With Sunita Williams eagerly awaiting her return to Earth, the support from her colleagues highlights the camaraderie and resilience among astronauts across nations.
