Indian American Astronaut Sunita Williams’s Third Foray Into Space Begins on May 6 Aboard Boeing’s Starliner

Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams will be returning to space on May 6 aboard Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Flight Test (CFT) along with fellow astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore. The test flight will certify the spacecraft to join in the rotation with Dragon to fly NASA crewed missions, according to a report in Florida Today.

The Starliner is scheduled to launch at 10.34 pm on Monday from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This will be Starliner’s maiden crewed flight and Williams’ third foray into space

Sunita “Suni” Williams is a trailblazing NASA astronaut who has spent a cumulative 322 days in space over two long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Indian-American veteran has logged an impressive 7 spacewalks totaling 50 hours and 40 minutes of EVA time.

Born Sunita Pandya in Euclid, Ohio in 1965, Williams was always drawn to exploration and adventure. Her father Deepak Pandya, a neuroanatomist, is also a renowned Hindu priest. Her mother is Slovene-American Ursuline Bonnie. Williams has taken the Slovenian flag, a samosa and Carniolan sausage to space in celebration of her Indian and Slovenian heritage.

Williams earned her Bachelor’s degree in physical science from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1987 before being commissioned as an ensign. Williams then gained extensive experience as a Navy helicopter pilot, deploying to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf in support of military operations.

Unsatisfied with helicopters alone, the driven Williams transitioned to flying fighter jets, accumulating over 3,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft. Her accomplishments as a decorated Naval officer and test pilot made her an ideal candidate for NASA’s astronaut corps. 

Selected by NASA in 1998, Williams had to bide her time on ground assignments awaiting a spaceflight opportunity. She assisted with early ISS operations and trained as an “aquanaut” living and working underwater to simulate spacewalks.

Williams’ patience paid off when she was assigned to the STS-116 shuttle mission in 2006, her first journey to the ISS as a flight engineer. During that ambitious 13-day mission, she completed four spacewalks to upgrade and rewire the station’s power systems.

Her true physical and mental endurance was put to the test on her second spaceflight in 2012 as an Expedition 32/33 crew member. Williams launched on a Russian Soyuz and remained aboard the ISS for 127 consecutive days as a flight engineer.

During her time on orbit, she participated in three more spacewalks, completed the Boston Marathon by running on a treadmill strapped to the station’s wall, and managed cargo spacecraft arrivals. At the time, her endurance was one of the longest single spaceflight durations for a woman.

Now, Williams eagerly awaits her third launch into space as the crew pilot aboard Boeing’s upcoming Starliner Crew Flight Test to the ISS. Alongside commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Williams will help certify Boeing’s new crew vehicle for regular ISS rotation.

Williams is married to Michael J. Williams and has two children.

(Top photos,  Sunita Williams/Facebook)