Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams marked her 59th birthday on September 19 while aboard the International Space Station (ISS), celebrating her second birthday in space. Williams is currently stranded at the ISS due to complications with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which NASA has deemed unfit for human travel.
Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, Williams’ stay has now extended to eight months, with plans to return on a SpaceX capsule in February next year. Despite the unexpected duration, Williams dedicated her birthday to critical maintenance tasks and scientific research aboard the ISS. Alongside fellow astronaut Don Pettit, she focused on maintaining life support systems and even replaced filters in the station’s waste and hygiene compartment.
Notably, Williams made history as the first woman to fly on the inaugural mission of the Starliner. With a cumulative total of 322 days spent in space, she ranks as the second woman astronaut with the highest number of spacewalks.
To celebrate her special day, Williams received a heartfelt rendition of Mohd Rafi’s birthday song “Bar bar din ye aaye” from Indian music company Saregama. The company encouraged fans to share their own birthday wishes using the hashtag #HappyBirthdaySunita, featuring contributions from Bollywood personalities like Karan Johar and singers such as Sonu Nigam and Neeti Mohan.
Looking ahead, Williams is set to participate in the upcoming 2024 US presidential elections, casting her vote from space on November 5. Reflecting on her extended stay, she remarked in a recent video press conference, “That’s how things go in this business,” adding that the transition to life at the ISS has been manageable due to her and Pettit’s prior experiences.
Sources By Agencies
