Former ISRO Chief Dr. G Madhavan Nair hailed the return of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams from the International Space Station (ISS) after nine months calling it a “proud moment” for the space community. He described the mission as a well planned and precise rescue operation emphasizing the success of NASA and SpaceX in ensuring her safe return.
Dr. Nair said “It is a proud moment for all of us in the space community. It is a successful completion of a rescue operation that lasted nearly nine months. The operation was planned in a very great manner, though it took time, but it was a very precise operation. I congratulate the entire NASA team and SpaceX for this great achievement. Sunita Williams has roots in India and she has successfully returned to Earth. The last interview she gave from the spacecraft indicates how healthy and confident she is”.
On the health challenges faced by astronauts in space, Dr. Nair explained how microgravity affects blood circulation, muscle function, and even bone marrow which is crucial for the production of white blood cells. These factors make long-duration space missions physically demanding and highlight the importance of continuous medical monitoring and rehabilitation upon return.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his admiration for the successful return of Crew-9, calling it a milestone in human space exploration. Taking to social media platform X he praised the resilience of the astronauts, particularly Sunita Williams, and commended their perseverance in space.
Rajnath Singh write “Delighted at the safe return of NASA’s #Crew9 on Earth! The crew, comprising India’s daughter Sunita Williams and other astronauts, have rewritten the history of human endurance and perseverance in space”. He further lauded Williams’ strength and determination, stating that her journey would inspire millions around the world.
The Crew-9 mission, which marked the fourth flight of the Dragon spacecraft Freedom, successfully brought back NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. They landed safely at 5:57 pm EDT, and SpaceX recovery teams quickly retrieved the spacecraft and crew. After returning to shore the astronauts will travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to reunite with their families and undergo post-mission evaluations.
Crew-9’s return coincided with the recent arrival of Crew-10 at the ISS, which docked on March 16 to begin another long-duration mission. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program continues to focus on providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the ISS, supporting broader goals of human space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars.
With Sunita Williams’ safe return, the mission stands as another achievement in international space collaboration, reinforcing the growing role of private space companies like SpaceX in advancing human spaceflight.
