How NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' mother is keeping her cool ...

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her crewmate Barry Wilmore are currently facing a significant extension of their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, their stay has been unexpectedly prolonged to eight months due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

Instead, the astronauts will now return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, a spacecraft developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The delay stems from several technical problems with the Starliner, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions. As a result, NASA has arranged for the astronauts to be brought home by a SpaceX capsule, with their return now planned for early 2025.

Despite these unforeseen challenges, Williams' family remains supportive and calm. Michael J. Williams, Sunita’s husband, and Bonnie Pandya, her mother, have both expressed confidence in her well-being and expertise. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal in August 2024, Michael described the ISS as his wife’s “happy place,” highlighting her comfort and dedication to her work in space.

Bonnie Pandya, also known as an ‘astronaut mom,’ shared her perspective in an interview with NewsNation’s Andrew Cuomo. She emphasised her confidence in her daughter’s abilities, stating, “I don’t give her any advice. She knows what to do. She is a seasoned astronaut.”

Pandya also noted that she spoke with Sunita two days prior, and her daughter reassured her that “everything’s going to be fine,” with a simple but reassuring message: “Don’t worry about me.”

According to NASA, the astronauts will continue their duties as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew until their expected return in February 2025. They will travel back to Earth aboard a Dragon spacecraft, which will also carry two other crew members from the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Meanwhile, the Starliner spacecraft is set to depart the ISS and perform a controlled autonomous re-entry and landing in early September.

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