Sunita Williams set to return after 10 months in space, Gujarat’s Jhulasan village celebrates

Sunil Chadha
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams’ return to Earth is now just days away, bringing joy to her ancestral village in Gujarat.

Sunita Williams, who has been in space for nearly 10 months, is set to come back after NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 reached the International Space Station (ISS) to facilitate her homecoming. If all goes as planned, she will land back on Earth this week.

Her village in Gujarat, Jhulasan, in Mehsana district, has been offering prayers for her safe return. The news of her upcoming arrival has created a festive atmosphere, with villagers eagerly awaiting her third visit to her homeland.

NASA’s Crew-9 Mission set to bring Sunita Williams back

NASA has scheduled the departure of Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts from the ISS on Tuesday (March 18).

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft’s hatch will close at 8.15 am IST, and their landing is expected on March 19. Alongside Williams, astronauts Anne McClain and Nicole Aunapu Mann (NASA), Takuya Onishi (Japan) and Kirill Peskov (Russia) will also return.

NASA will live-stream Sunita Williams’ return, making it a globally watched event.

Extended stay in space due to technical issues

Sunita Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore were initially meant to stay in space for only a week after their launch in June 2024.

However, due to unexpected technical problems with their spacecraft, their mission was extended to nearly nine months.

To bring them back safely, NASA launched Crew-9 aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on March 14. The mission successfully docked at the ISS, ensuring Williams and her team’s return journey.

Sunita Williams’ ancestral village awaits her visit

The residents of Sunita Williams’ ancestral village in Gujarat are excited about her return and are keen to welcome her back to India once she has recovered from her long mission.

“We are extremely proud of her achievements. She is the pride of our village. We pray for her safe return and good health,” said a villager. He said the villagers are eager to hear about her experiences in space. “When she is ready to visit India, we hope she will also come to our village in Gujarat. We would love to listen to her incredible journey.”

If weather conditions remain stable, NASA expects the SpaceX Dragon capsule to make a water landing off the Florida coast by Wednesday, marking the successful completion of Sunita Williams’ return mission.