Indian-Origin NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Shares Stunning Views of India from Space

Washington, D.C.:Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who recently spent 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), opened up about her awe-inspiring experiences of India from space. During her first media interaction since returning to Earth, Williams, whose father hails from Gujarat, vividly described the breathtaking views of her ancestral homeland as she orbited above it.

Reflecting on her time aboard the ISS, Williams called India “amazing,” especially during her flyovers of the majestic Himalayas. She recalled how her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, captured remarkable photos of the mountain range, sharing her sense of wonder at the sight. “Every time we went over the Himalayas, Butch got incredible pictures. It’s just amazing,” Williams said, as she marveled at the landscapes below.

Williams also spoke about the vast fishing fleets off the coast of Gujarat and Mumbai, which stood out as a beacon during their journey. “When you come from the east, going into Gujarat and Mumbai, the fishing fleet off the coast there gives you a little bit of a beacon that here we come,” she explained, further adding that the view of India at night looked like a network of lights stretching across the country, from the bustling larger cities to the smaller towns.

Describing the Himalayan range from space, she noted, “Just incredible to look at, at night as well as during the day, highlighted, of course, by the Himalayas, which is just incredible as a forefront going down into India.”

Williams, 59, who is proud of her Indian roots, expressed her desire to visit India, saying, “I hope, and I think for sure, I’m gonna be going back to my father’s home country and visiting with people.” She also mentioned her excitement about the upcoming Axiom mission, which will feature Subhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force test pilot and ISRO astronaut.

Her father, Deepak Pandya, originally from Gujarat, moved to the United States in 1958, where he completed his internship and residency in medicine. Williams was born in Ohio to Deepak and Ursuline Bonnie Pandya.