Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed astronaut Sunita Williams and the Crew-9 team as they returned to Earth after spending over nine months in space. “Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you,” PM Modi wrote on X, sharing a picture with Williams.
NASA’s Crew-9 landed safely in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, splashing down off the Florida coast at 3:27 am IST on Wednesday. Their mission, which began as an eight-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS), stretched to 286 days due to technical issues with NASA’s Starliner.
PM Modi praised their courage and determination, calling their journey “a test of grit and the boundless human spirit.” He emphasized that space exploration is about pushing limits, daring to dream, and having the courage to achieve them. He also acknowledged the dedicated team behind their safe return.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh shared a letter from PM Modi to Williams, where he expressed India’s pride in her achievements. Modi recalled discussing Williams with former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino and mentioned inquiring about her well-being during meetings with US leaders. He also looked forward to welcoming Williams to India, calling her “one of its most illustrious daughters.”
Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore originally flew aboard NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test on June 5 last year. However, due to technical failures, they were reassigned to SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission. After a 17-hour journey back, their spacecraft deployed parachutes before safely landing in the ocean.
