As NASA and the space community await the return of veteran astronaut Sunita Williams, her homecoming in late March 2025 is expected to be warmly received by colleagues and enthusiasts alike. Williams with her colleague Butch Wilmore left for the space in June last year aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule on a designated eight-day mission. However, technical faults which is still not completely known had left them stranded.
NASA and SpaceX have finally locked in the dates for their big return trip. They’re set to launch the Crew-10 mission on March 12, and the astronauts are slated to return to Earth on March 19, according to NASA. As astronauts’ families, friends, well-wishers, and the US gear up for Sunita Williams’ homecoming, let’s take a closer look at some key details about her.
Who Is Sunita Williams?
Sunita “Suni” Williams is a veteran American astronaut, naval officer, and one of NASA’s most experienced space travelers. She was born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, to an Indian-American father, Deepak Pandya, and a Slovenian-American mother, Bonnie Zalokar, she grew up in Needham, Massachusetts.
Her Studies And Career
Sunita Williams began her career in the U.S. Navy in 1987 after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Science from the U.S. Naval Academy. She later pursued a Master’s in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. As a naval aviator, she piloted helicopters and jets, accumulating over 3,000 flight hours and rising to the rank of Captain before retiring. Her expertise as a test pilot drew NASA’s attention, which led to her selection as an astronaut in 1998. She has completed nine spacewalks, having total duration of 62 hours and 6 minutes.
Her First Mission And Record
Expedition 14/15 (2006-2007)
- Sunita Williams spent 195 days aboard the ISS.
She set a record for most spacewalk time by a woman at the time—62 hours and 6 minutes across seven EVAs (extravehicular activities).
Her record was later surpassed, but her achievement remains significant.
Expedition 32/33 (2012)
- She spent 127 days in space during this mission.
She became the second woman to command the ISS (after Peggy Whitson).
This brought her total space time to over 322 days before her current mission.
Sunita Williams’ Salary
- Williams’ wealth primarily comes from her government salary, which is approximately ₹1.25 crore per year for senior astronauts. In addition to this, she receives a military pension and has personal investments that contribute to her overall financial stability.
Sunita Williams’ Net Worth
Sunita Williams has an estimated net worth of Rs 41.5 crore, according to Marca.com. She has made significant contributions to the space exploration, gaining her recognition across the globe.
When asked what she would miss the most about space, Williams simply smiled and said, “Everything.” Her words reflected a deep love for the vastness of space.
“This has been my third flight to the ISS. We helped put it together, and we’ve watched it change over the years. Just living here gives us a unique perspective, not just from looking out the window, but on how to solve problems. I don’t want to lose that spark of inspiration and perspective when I leave, so I’m going to have to bottle it up somehow,” she said.
