Priyanka Tiwari
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Indian-American NASA astronaut Sunita Williams discussed her return to Earth after spending 278 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). At her first press conference since coming back, Williams expressed thanks to NASA and SpaceX, whose Dragon spacecraft safely brought her and fellow astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore home.
“Feeling good since we’ve been back, almost two weeks now. I even ran three miles yesterday,” she said, sharing her current well-being.
Emotional Reunion with Family and Pets
Williams described the emotional moment of reuniting with her husband, Michael J. Williams, and their dogs. She also shared that her first meal back was a grilled cheese sandwich—a nod to her vegetarian father and a comforting return to Earth’s simple pleasures.
A Mission That Extended Far Beyond Schedule
Initially planned as an eight-day test mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner, the astronauts ended up staying in space for over nine months due to unexpected delays. The pair returned on 18 March aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.
Williams emphasized that despite the extension, they remained focused on their duties. “We were just part of the team, doing the job, filling in wherever we could,” she said.
Political Comments Stir Controversy
Former U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy with a claim that President Joe Biden “abandoned” the astronauts in orbit. He further stated that he gave Elon Musk the “permission” to bring them back, a comment that has sparked political discussion unrelated to mission operations.
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