NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth after an extended stay at the International Space Station (ISS). They arrived at the ISS in June 2024 for a short mission to test Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft during its first crewed flight. However, the spacecraft had problems with its propulsion system, making it unsafe for the return trip. As a result, the Starliner flew back without anyone on board, leaving the astronauts stranded at the ISS until their return.
On Tuesday, both astronauts undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST and started their 17-hour journey back to Earth. They Traveled in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
Meet Sunita Williams’ Parents
Sunita Williams’ father, Deepak Pandya, is from Jhulasan, Gujarat. He finished his Intermediate Science (I.S.) in 1953 at Gujarat University and then earned his M.D. in 1957. After that, he moved to the United States, where he completed his internship and residency in Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1964, Pandya joined Case Western Reserve University as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Anatomy. He later worked at different hospitals and research centers across the United States.
Pandya met Ursuline Bonnie Zalokar, who is Slovenian-American, when he arrived in the U.S. in 1957. They got married soon after.
Last month, Zalokar talked about her daughter’s extended stay at the ISS. In an interview with NewsNation, she shared how Sunita and the other astronauts felt lucky to be part of such a long mission.
“It’s what they do. They love doing this and are proud to go on a long mission like this. They feel great about it,” she said in the interview. “She’s doing what she loves. So how could I feel sad? I’m happy for her.”
All About Sunita Williams’ Husband
Sunita Williams is married to Michael J. Williams, a federal marshal in Texas. Before starting their careers, both of them had experience flying helicopters. They have been married for 20 years and do not have children.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal in August 2024, Michael Williams shared that for Sunita, space is “her happy place.”
Also read: Eating In Zero Gravity: A Sneak Peek Into Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore’s ISS Meals
