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Indians Abroad US Edition

260 Miles Away From Earth, Sunita Williams Makes Her Vote Count

Astronaut Sunita Williams, who will return from space in February 2025, cast her vote in the United States Presidential Election. "'Proud to be American," she said.

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Tanya Savkoor
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Images: Nick Hague on X (November 2024)

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NASA astronaut Sunita Lyn Williams, on her third space mission since June 6 is one among the 1.5 million Americans who cast their vote in the US Presidential election on November 5. She has been stranded in space for much longer than anticipated, yet, her enthusiasm remains high. NASA scientist Nick Hague posted a picture of Williams and her co-pilots sporting socks that read, 'Proud to be American'. He wrote on X, "It doesn’t matter if you are sitting, standing, or floating  - what matters is that you vote!"

How Are Votes From Space Cast?

According to the Texas Harris County Clerk of Court's Office, Williams and co-pilots cast early ballots for president from the International Space Station. The astronauts sent their votes via NASA's Near Space Network, a network of satellites in orbit that connect to antennas on Earth, much like the majority of data sent between the space station and mission control.

It doesn’t matter if you are sitting, standing, or floating  - what matters is that you vote! pic.twitter.com/olRTOpIozp

— Nick Hague (@AstroHague) November 5, 2024

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Sunita Williams' Diwali In Space

Recently, Sunita Williams also celebrated Diwali 260 miles away from the Earth. In a video shared by the US White House, Williams recalled her father's commitment to staying true to their cultural roots even after migrating miles away from home. "My father kept and shared his cultural roots by teaching us about Diwali and other Indian festivals. Diwali is a time of joy as goodness in the world prevails," she said.

Williams joined Diwali celebrations at the White House via video conference. "Greetings from the ISS. I want to extend my warmest wishes for a Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating today at the White House and around the world. This year I have the unique opportunity to celebrate Diwali from 260 miles above the earth on the ISS."

"I am so thankful to have grown up in a multicultural household where our parents encouraged us to seek opportunities and reach for the stars. Thank You to the President and the Vice President for celebrating Diwali with our community today and for recognising the many contributions of our community," Williams added. 

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When Will Sunita Williams Return? 

On September 29, a SpaceX capsule that will ferry back her and the crew successfully docked with the International Space Station. NASA live-streamed the landmark moment when SpaceX's Crew9 aboard a Dragon spacecraft met with Williams and her co-pilot Butch Wilmore. The astronauts will reportedly return to Earth only in February 2025.

The Falcon 9 rocket took off at 1:17 p.m.(1717 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 28 and made contact with the ISS at 5:30 p.m. the next day. NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov boarded the space station just after 7:00 p.m., embracing Williams and Wilmore. NASA deputy administrator Pam Melroy remarked at a news conference, "What a fabulous day it was today!" 

Sunita Williams and her co-pilot Butch E. Wilmore delivered their first public address since the announcement of their extended space mission. The Earth-to-space call, which took place on September 13, was a preview of the courage that both astronauts are living with. Williams expressed that while she was disappointed not to be able to spend the holidays and the winter with her family, she is also grateful to be spending more time in her "happy place".  

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Why The Delay?

On August 9, reports stated that the crew's return could be delayed till February 2025. They were aboard Boeing's maiden human spaceflight, called Starliner. Amid reports of technical issues that extended the astronauts' stay in the International Space Station, the spacecraft safely touched down in New Mexico without its crew. Boeing has reportedly not yet issued an official statement since the return. 

The astronauts are stranded at the International Space Station due to reported helium leaks on the spacecraft. While the Indo-American scientist and her crew were expected to return to Earth on June 13, the glitch caused a delay, and there was no exact date for her landing. Meanwhile, in a shocking turn of events, a whistleblower alleged on June 18 that NASA and Boeing were aware of the leak, yet deemed the rocket safe for liftoff. 

As per a report by CNN, the Starliner spacecraft which not only has helium leakage issues but also 'thruster outrage' issues will have to stay up longer than expected as NASA continues to work towards solving one issue at a time to ensure the safe return of its astronauts. 

A CBS News report stated that whistleblowers accused NASA and Boeing of neglecting a leak that they already knew existed. They allegedly considered it to be too small to jeopardize the mission. This decision has now left Williams, her co-pilot Butch Wilmore, and the other crew members stranded at the International Space Station (ISS).

The launch had been postponed multiple times due to technical glitches and a different leak. Once in orbit, four additional helium leaks developed, reportedly rendering one thruster unusable. Five of the 28 thrusters are having issues and there have been five Helium leaks on the spacecraft. Reportedly, a minimum of 14 thrusters are required for a safe return.

In another incident that created a tense situation at NASA, a Russian satellite broke up near the International Space Station due to which astronaut Williams had to take shelter in Starliner to avoid potential threats from the space debris, as per reports. 

Sunita Williams' Arrival At Space Station

For this mission, Williams and Wilmore underwent training as one of the first-ever pilots of the Crew Flight Test mission aboard the Boeing Starliner. The Starliner cruise was earlier scheduled for early May 6, but technical errors caused a delay to the first week of June. Finally, on June 6, the duo safely docked at the International Space Station for the highly awaited mission.

Williams' Third Time In Space

Sunita Lyn Williams has spent 321 days, 17 hours, and 15 minutes of her life in space and she is now on her third space mission. The 58-year-old astronaut's first spaceflight experience was as a Flight Engineer with Expedition 14/15 from December 9, 2006, to June 22, 2007.

It was during that flight that Williams set new records for women in space with four spacewalks totalling 29 hours and 17 minutes. She concluded her tour and returned to Earth with the STS-117 crew. 

Following that, her next space lift was with Expedition 32/33 which launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in July 2012. She once again set a record for total cumulative spacewalk time with a time of 50 hours and 40 minutes.

Williams exercises on COLBERT during ISS Expedition 32
Williams during ISS Expedition 32 | Image: NASA

She, Russian Soyuz commander Yuri Malenchenko, and Flight Engineer Akihiko Hoshide of Japan spent four months conducting research and exploration aboard the orbiting laboratory before landing in November 2012.

Sunita Lyn Williams' Stellar Career

Williams belongs to Needham, Massachusetts. Her father, Deepak Pandya, was a renowned neuroanatomist from India. Her mother Ursuline Bonnie (Zalokar) Pandya is a Slovenian. 

Williams at Science City Kolkata in April 2013
Williams at a lecture in Kolkata's Science City, April 2013 | Image: Biswarup Ganguly

Sunita, commonly known as Suni, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy, and then a Master of Science degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995.

She was an ensign in the United States Navy in May 1987 as a Basic Diving Officer. In 1989, she reported to the Naval Air Training Command, where she was designated a Naval Aviator.

In 1993, Williams began training at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. After her graduation, she was assigned to the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate as an H-46 Project Officer and V-22 chase pilot in the T-2.

In 1995, she went back to the Naval Test Pilot School as an instructor in the Rotary Wing Department and as the school's Safety Officer, where she flew the UH-60, OH-6, and OH-58 choppers.

She was then assigned as an Aircraft Handler and the Assistant Air Boss on the USS Saipan in 1998. Williams was selected by NASA for the astronaut program, where she began her training at Johnson Space Center in August 1998.

Williams has recorded more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types. She has received several laurels for her contributions to the US Navy and American space research.

Some of her awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (which she won twice), the Legion of Merit, the Navy Commendation Medal twice, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

NASA Sunita Williams Sunita Williams Spacelift
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