India interested in leveraging Sunita Williams’ space expertise, says ISRO Chairman

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr V Narayanan congratulated NASA astronaut Sunita Williams on her safe return to Earth after nine months in space, expressing India's interest in leveraging her expertise in space exploration.

“Welcome back, Sunita Williams! Your safe return after an extended mission aboard the ISS is a remarkable achievement. A testament to NASA, SpaceX, and the USA’s commitment to space exploration! Your resilience and dedication continue to inspire space enthusiasts around the world,” ISRO posted on X.

“As Secretary of State and Chairman of ISRO, I, on behalf of my colleagues, extend a warm greeting to you and wish you a great day ahead. When Bharat, under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Modi ji, is working towards making India a developed country, we wish to utilize your expertise in space exploration,” posted Dr Narayanan.

Dr Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, also welcomed the US astronaut with a congratulatory post.

“A moment of glory, pride, and relief! The whole world comes together to celebrate the safe return of this illustrious daughter of India, who has instantly gone down in history for the courage, conviction, and consistency with which she endured the uncertainties of space,” Dr Singh posted.

US astronauts Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024 for a crewed flight test.

However, propulsion issues rendered the spacecraft unfit for return, leading NASA to keep them at the ISS while seeking a safe alternative.