Sunita Lyn Williams((née Pandya; born September 19, 1964) is an American astronaut, and United States Navy officer, who holds the record for total spacewalks by a woman. As of November 2012, she had made seven spacewalks totaling 50 hours and 40 minutes, making her one of the most experienced spacewalkers.
Sunita Williams Early Life & Education
Sunita Lyn Williams was born as Sunita Pandya to Indian American Deepak Pandya and Slovene American Ursuline Bonnie in Euclid, Ohio, as the youngest of their three children. Her brother, Jay Thomas, is four years older, and her sister, Dina Annad, is three years older. She grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. Sunita Williams’s father, Deepak Pandya, is a renowned neuroanatomist of Indian descent, and her mother, Bonnie Pandya, is of Slovak origin. (Source: Wikipedia)
Sunita attended Needham High School and graduated in 1983. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1987. After graduation, she received her commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. she entered the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in physical science in 1987.
Naval Career
Upon her graduation, she was made an ensign in the United States Navy in 1987. Williams began her naval career as a Basic Diving Officer and subsequently attended the Naval Aviation Training Command. She was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1989. Her initial assignments included flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 (HC-8) in Norfolk, Virginia. As a naval test pilot, she was first assigned to the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate as an H-46 Project Officer and V-22 chase pilot in the T-2
In 1993, she was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Upon graduation, she served as a test pilot with the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate. She also worked on the T-45A Goshawk jet training aircraft.
Sunita NASA Career
Williams began her astronaut candidate training at the Johnson Space Center in August 1998. After a period of intensive training, she was sent to Moscow to work with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the space station and with the first Expedition Crew. Post that she was assigned to various technical assignments, including work at the Kennedy Space Center, the International Space Station (ISS), and the Astronaut Office.
Space Missions
- Expedition 14/15 (December 2006 – June 2007):
- Williams launched to the ISS on the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission aboard Discovery. She served as a flight engineer for Expedition 14 and later for Expedition 15.
- During her stay on the ISS, she set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (195 days) until it was broken in 2017.
- She completed four spacewalks, totaling over 29 hours, which set the record for the most spacewalk time by a woman until it was surpassed later. Astronaut Peggy Whitson subsequently broke the record in 2008 with a total of five spacewalks.
- Expedition 32/33 (July 2012 – November 2012):
- Williams launched to the ISS again on July 15, 2012, aboard a Soyuz spacecraft. She served as a flight engineer for Expedition 32 and later as the commander of Expedition 33.
- During this mission, she conducted three more spacewalks, bringing her total spacewalk time to 50 hours and 40 minutes, which set a new record for cumulative spacewalk time by a female astronaut.
- Williams also became the second woman to command the ISS.
- Sunita Williams flies to space for 3rd time– Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams flew to space for the third time on 5th June 2024, along with a colleague Butch Wilmore. Williams, 58, was the pilot for the flight test while Wilmore, 61, was the commander of the mission. The launch marks the beginning of the NASA-Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT),
Why is Sunita Williams Stuck in Space?
Starliner which was carrying two astronauts Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore was supposed to come home after 8 days on June 18 but the Nasa later pushed it to June 26. The space agency has delayed it again to July, forcing them to remain docked at the International Space Station (ISS) saying the teams needed more time to study the propulsion system problems.
The return flight has been delayed repeatedly as ground teams continue to troubleshoot a series of problems that includes helium leaks and a few thrusters that stopped working at a critical moment in the flight, in the capsule’s propulsion system. Time in space. 349 days, 10 hours, 52 minutes (till now 4 July 2024)
Sunita Williams Family
Williams is married to Michael J. Williams, a federal marshal in Texas. The two have been married for more than 20 years, and both flew helicopters early in their careers. They reside together in suburban Houston, Texas.
Awards and Honors
Sunita Williams has received numerous awards and honors, including:
- Navy Commendation Medal (twice)
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (twice)
- National Defense Service Medal
- NASA Spaceflight Medal
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- Padma Bhushan, Government of India (2008)
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vishwa Pratibha Award
Summary
Williams continues to be active in the astronaut community and serves as a role model and advocate for space exploration and STEM education. She has also been involved in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, working with private companies to develop new spacecraft for future missions.
Sunita Williams’ remarkable career and dedication to exploration exemplify the spirit of human curiosity and the drive to push the boundaries of what is possible
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