Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams revealed a deeply personal moment from her time aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—one that connects her to her roots far more than most might expect.
“When I reached International Space Station for the first time, the first thing I did was to locate India (on Earth), from where my father belonged to, and Slovenia, from where my mother belonged,” Williams said during an interactive session titled Eyes on the Stars, Feet on the Ground.
That search for the countries of her parents wasn’t just a visual exercise. It was a reaching back into identity while hurtling hundreds of kilometres above the planet. Williams, who was born in Ohio to an Indian-American father and Slovenian-American mother, said the act reminded her of the people and places that shaped her.
A long and unexpected stay
Williams has been one of NASA’s most seasoned astronauts, having been on space missions three times and spending a total of 608 days in orbit. She also holds the record for the most cumulative spacewalking time by a woman—clocking in at 62 hours and 6 minutes.
Her most recent ISS visit began as a planned eight-day mission in 2024. But a series of spacecraft issues left her and her colleague far from Earth for much longer than expected. The planned return trip aboard Boeing’s Starliner fell through due to technical problems, ultimately delaying their journey home.
“Though I spent nine months in space during my latest trip to the ISS, I missed meeting Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla who reached the station just after I left,” Williams shared.
Life in zero gravity — and on Earth again
Williams also opened up about the lighter, human moments from her stay, from craving Indian food in orbit to running a marathon on a treadmill aboard the station.
She spoke of how extended zero gravity changed her perspective on everyday life, joking that even arguments with her husband seemed trivial compared to seeing Earth from space.
After returning home in March 2025, Williams has been actively inspiring students and young scientists in India and around the world.
