Sunita Williams on India from Space: ‘Himalayas Look Breathtaking’
Sunita Williams on India from Space: ‘Himalayas Look Breathtaking’
Four decades after Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma famously described India from space as “Saare Jahaan Se Accha”, Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams shared her own breathtaking experience.
Williams, who recently returned from a 286-day space mission, was mesmerized by the sight of India, especially the Himalayas. “Amazing, just amazing,” she said when asked how India looked from space. “Every time we went over the Himalayas, Butch (Wilmore, fellow astronaut) got incredible pictures. It is just amazing.”
The US astronaut, who often speaks about her Indian roots, described India’s landscape as incredible. From the vast fishing fleets in the west to the towering Himalayas in the north, she felt a deep connection to the country.
“I have described it before like this ripple that happened obviously when the plates collided, and then as it flows down into India, it is many-many colours,” she said. Williams was particularly fascinated by India’s illuminated cities at night. “From the bigger cities to the smaller towns, the network of lights is just incredible,” she added.
The 59-year-old astronaut is also excited about NASA’s upcoming Axiom mission, which will take four astronauts to space. One of them is Indian Air Force test pilot and ISRO astronaut Subhanshu Shukla. “It’s pretty awesome. He will be a hometown hero who can share his experiences from the International Space Station,” she said.
Williams was asked if she would help India’s space program. She responded with enthusiasm, saying she hopes to share her experiences with as many people in India as possible. “It is a great country and another wonderful democracy trying to put its foot in space. I would love to be a part of that and help them along,” she said.
She also hopes to visit India soon, her “father’s country.” Her co-traveller, Butch Wilmore, joked about joining her. “Do you plan to take your crew members on that trip with you?” he asked. “Absolutely,” she replied, adding, “You might stick out a little bit. But that is okay. We will get you all primed for some spicy food.”
Williams and Wilmore had initially left for an eight-day mission in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner. However, due to propulsion issues, the spacecraft returned uncrewed, leaving them stranded in space. They finally returned to Earth on March 19 aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
