Texas, USA – A mission that was supposed to be a straightforward eight-day round trip has turned into a months-long stay for NASA astronaut Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams and her colleague Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore.
Launched on June 5, 2024, aboard NASA’s Boeing Starliner Calypso, the mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was immediately made longer when the capsule’s thrusters got a problem as it approached the ISS.
3 things she is looking forward to on Earth
Despite the unexpected stay, Sunita said she has found joy in the prolonged mission, engaging with schoolchildren and sharing her experiences.
However, the 59-year-old Ohio native revealed that she eagerly anticipates reuniting with her family, spending time with her dogs, and “jumping in the ocean” which she said are the three things she looked to when she finally got back on earth again.
She added, “I think that will be really nice to just be back on Earth and feel Earth that way.”
Thruster malfunction and extended stay
The thruster issue made it too dangerous for the Sunita to return to Earth as planned. Speaking from space, Williams described the awe-inspiring view from her orbital vantage point in an interview with the BBC.
“Up here, you know, it’s just incredible. You come and look out the window, and you just go ‘wow’. I’ve got to pinch myself to be able to have this view, to be able to share this view,” she said.