“Showed Kumbh from Space,” Sunita Williams’ Family to NDTV

Falguni Pandya, sister-in-law of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, said that Sunita showed her a photo of the Maha Kumbh taken from the International Space Station (ISS).

Also Read : Daily Green Chillies with Meals Can Harm Digestion

Conversation Before the Kumbh Trip

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, she said, “I talked to her (Sunita Williams) right before I travelled to Kumbh. I asked her if she can see the Kumbh from space and what does it look like. She then sent me a picture of it from space.”

Also Read : Facebook hired fall guy for arrests in India; was ‘outfoxed’ by official on Free Basics, new book claims

NASA’s Support for Sunita Williams

Pandya said that NASA ensured Williams was “surrounded by the love of her family” and kept constantly updated on what she and her children were doing. “Compare this to 2007 when she was in space; we would spend six hours traveling to her parents’ home, the NASA team would come, and they would record a satellite video of our messages.” Now, we talk to her just like we get on a call. Thanks to technology and NASA?!” she said.

Also Read : Sunita Williams’ Extended Space Stay: A Research Opportunity in Disguise

Sunita Williams’ Multicultural Roots

A former US Navy captain, Williams, 59, was born to a Gujarati father Deepak Pandya hailing from Jhulasan in Mehsana district and Slovenian mother Ursuline Bonnie Pandya, on September 19, 1965 in Euclid, Ohio. Proud of her multicultural roots, Williams has carried symbols of her heritage to space ‘” including samosas, a Slovenian flag, and Ganesha idol during previous missions.

Also Read : Land-for-jobs case: Lalu Yadav reaches ED office

Williams’ Prolonged Mission in Space

Williams and Butch Wilmore’s eight-day mission to the International Space Station turned into a stay in orbit for nine months after Boeing’s Starliner developed propulsion issues. The capsule undocked from the space station on Tuesday and splashed down off the Florida coast on Wednesday morning. This was Williams’ third space flight and she has clocked a cumulative 608 days in space.

Also Read : Harbhajan Singh Asked 43-Year-Old MS Dhoni About IPL Prep, Amazed by His Fitness

Political Flashpoint Over Prolonged Mission

Wilmore and Williams’ prolonged mission also became a political flashpoint. Former US President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claimed that the company could have returned the astronauts earlier but that the administration led by former US President Joe Biden allegedly blocked the return, CNN reported.