Billionaire Anand Mahindra joined the world in welcoming NASA astronaut Sunita Williams following her safe return to Earth. Williams along with Butch Wilmore, both former Navy pilots, had flown to the orbital lab on June 5 last year on what was supposed to be an eight-day mission. However, the duo ended up staying for 286 days at the International Space Station (ISS) after technical issues delayed their return.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mahindra recalled meeting Williams two years ago in US' Washington. He also expressed relief and joy at her successful splashdown back on Earth through the SpaceX Dragon Capsule. Praising her courage and determination, Mahindra wrote further: "She is courage personified. It's good to have her back. Swagatam, Sunita (Welcome, Sunita)."
Mahindra's post also included a photo from his 2023 meeting with Williams, which he called a "Washington moment". The photo features Mahindra with Sunita Williams, Mukesh Ambani and Vrinda Kapoor.
When the SpaceX recue mission was launched, I recalled this chance encounter almost two years ago with @Astro_Suni in Washington.
March 19, 2025
It was an enormous relief to see her and her colleagues' successful splashdown back on earth a few hours ago.
She is courage personified and… https://t.co/E64p9YX5t3Williams, along with three other astronauts, returned to Earth earlier today. NASA astronaut Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov were also part of the crew.
Astronauts Carried On Stretcher After Their Return
A live stream of their splashdown was shared by NASA and Elon Musk's SpaceX, showing the astronauts being pulled out of their capsule on stretchers. Immediately after the rescue, the four astronauts were taken for medical assistance. Williams was seen waving and smiling at the crew and camera as she was assisted out of the Dragon Capsule.
Williams and Wilmore are expected to undergo recovery after their extended space mission. Such incidents can result in challenges such as bone and muscle deterioration, radiation exposure, and vision impairment.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also shared a post on X, welcoming Sunita Williams and lauding the US' efforts in space exploration.
🚀 Welcome back, Sunita Williams! 🌍
March 19, 2025
Your safe return after an extended mission aboard the ISS is a remarkable achievement. A testament to NASA, SpaceX, and the USA's commitment to space exploration! Your resilience and dedication continue to inspire space enthusiasts around the…In a letter dated Mar. 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also enquired about Williams' health and well-being. "1.4 billion Indians have always taken great pride in your achievements," PM Modi's letter read. It was shared by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on X.
Earlier today, Williams' family told NDTV that the Indian-origin astronaut might visit India soon. Williams' sister-in-law, Falguni Pandya, said that while the dates are not confirmed yet, the visit could be as soon as this year. Williams' father was a resident of Gujarat's Mehsana district.
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