New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who at this time started her return journey to Earth from the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) after being stranded there for greater than 9 months.
In a letter dated March 1, which was shared by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on X at this time, the Prime Minister mentioned he had inquired in regards to the well-being of Ms Williams – who flew to the orbital lab on June 5 final yr – when he met President Donald Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, throughout his visits to the USA.
The letter was made public hours after Ms Williams and her colleague, Butch Wilmore, undocked from the ISS for a 17-hour journey again house.
PM Modi recalled that at a gathering with former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino in Delhi this month, her title had come up of their dialog.
“We mentioned how proud we’re of you and your work. Following this interplay, I couldn’t cease myself from writing to you,” PM Modi mentioned.
“1.4 billion Indians have all the time taken nice delight in your achievements. Latest developments have but once more showcased your inspirational fortitude and perseverance,” he wrote.
As the entire world waits, with abated breath, for the secure return of Sunita Williams, that is how PM Sh @narendramodi expressed his concern for this daughter of India.
“Regardless that you might be hundreds of miles away, you stay near our hearts,” says PM Sh Narendra Modi’s… pic.twitter.com/MpsEyxAOU9— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) March 18, 2025
He mentioned her mom, Bonnie Pandya, should be “keenly” awaiting her return.
“I’m positive that Late Deepakbhai’s blessings are with you as properly,” the Prime Minister mentioned, referring to her father, Deepak Pandya, who was a resident of his house state, Gujarat, and died in 2020.
PM Modi additionally mentioned he “fondly” remembers assembly him and her throughout his go to to the US in 2016.
Within the presence of astronaut Sunita Williams and Kalpana Chawla’s household pic.twitter.com/sPJbrQxdPU
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 6, 2016
“Regardless that you might be hundreds of miles away, you proceed to stay near our hearts. The folks of India are praying on your good well being and success in your mission,” PM Modi instructed the 59-year-old astronaut.
“After your return, we’re wanting ahead to seeing you in India. It is going to be a pleasure for India to host considered one of its most illustrious daughters,” he added.
He additionally despatched his “heat regards” to her husband, Michael Williams.
Sunita Williams Flew To Area Station In June
Sunita Williams and her colleague, Butch Wilmore, flew to the orbital lab on June 5 final yr, on what was presupposed to be a days-long roundtrip to check out Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed flight.
The spaceship, nonetheless, developed propulsion issues and was deemed unfit to fly them again. It as an alternative returned uncrewed.
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The 2 astronauts have been then reassigned to the NASA-SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which noticed a Dragon spacecraft fly to the ISS in September final yr with a staff of two — American astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov — quite than the same old 4, to make room for the stranded astronauts.
On Sunday, a aid staff — Crew-10 — docked with the house station to make the way in which for Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore’s much-awaited homecoming, together with Mr Hague and Mr Gorbunov.
