Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams, 58, took a historic step as part of the first crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner capsule to the International Space Station on Wednesday morning. Williams made history as the first woman to test an orbital spacecraft, accompanied by fellow astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore. This third attempt at launching the Starliner, after previous delays, aims to establish routine flights between the capsule and NASA.
A veteran of two prior space missions, Williams is known for bringing cultural items on her journeys, including the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and samosas, reflecting her Indian heritage. Her father is Indian, and her mother is of Slovenian descent. During her 2012 Expedition 32/33 mission, she sent a Diwali greeting from space, highlighting her cultural pride.
Selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998, Williams has accumulated 322 days in space and performed seven spacewalks. She once held the record for cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut, a title now held by Peggy Whitson.
Williams' mother, Bonnie Pandya, expressed pride and excitement, noting that her daughter was in good spirits before the launch. Moments before liftoff, Williams radioed, “Let’s go, Calypso. Take us to space and back,” referencing the Starliner capsule’s name.
This mission signifies a major milestone in space travel, with potential to enhance the frequency and reliability of trips between Boeing’s Starliner and NASA.
