Sunita Williams Reflects on 237 Days in Space

Synopsis

Indian-Origin astronaut Sunita Williams, after spending 237 days in space, is trying to recall the feeling of walking. Stranded due to a faulty spacecraft, she reflects on her experiences aboard the ISS and discusses her upcoming return to Earth.

Key Takeaways

Sunita Williams has been in space for 237 days.
She is trying to remember what walking feels like.
Williams will return to Earth in March via SpaceX Dragon.
Her time in space has extended from an initial eight-day mission.
Elon Musk has been involved in facilitating their return.

New Delhi, Jan 29 (NationPress) After being in space for 237 days, Indian-Origin astronaut Sunita Williams expressed her efforts to recall the sensation of walking.

Williams has been at the International Space Station since June 2024, following the malfunction of the Starliner, which was deemed unfit for human travel by NASA.

During a conversation with students from Needham High School in the US on January 27, the 59-year-old NASA astronaut shared insights about her life aboard the space station.

“I've been up here long enough trying to remember what it feels like to walk. I haven't walked. I haven't sat down. I haven't laid down. You can simply close your eyes and float wherever you are,” reported WBZ-TV.

Overall, Williams has accumulated a total of 322 days in space across her two missions. She, alongside fellow NASA astronaut Butch Willmore, was among the first to board the Starliner, developed by Boeing in June 2024.

What began as a planned eight-day stay on the ISS has turned into over 10 months in space for the astronaut duo, who are now set to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule in March.

Williams mentioned to the students that she hadn’t anticipated being in space for such an extended period, describing the experience as a “bit of shock”. Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk stated that US President Donald Trump had requested him to expedite the return of both Williams and Willmore.

The SpaceX CEO remarked that it was “terrible” for the pair to be left “stranded” at the ISS for an extended duration, even though NASA had already arranged for SpaceX months prior to facilitate their return as part of the Crew-9 mission.

“The POTUS has asked SpaceX to bring home the two astronauts stranded on the Space Station as soon as possible. We will do so,” Musk posted on social media.

“It’s terrible that the Biden administration left them there for so long,” he added.

Williams is anticipated to conduct another spacewalk on Thursday, marking her second in 12 years. With a total of 50 hours and 40 minutes, she holds the second position for total cumulative spacewalk time among female astronauts.