Sunita Williams Retires: Meets Kalpana Chawla's mother and sister in India, shares 27 years of experience in space.

Posted on 21st Jan 2026 by rohit kumar

Indian-origin American astronaut Sunita Williams retired from NASA, the space agency, upon turning 60. Sunita is currently on a visit to India. During an event held in New Delhi, the national capital, she shared her experiences related to space from her career spanning over two and a half decades. She also met the mother and sister of the late astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who hailed from Haryana.

 

 

Space Missions Only Succeed When Countries Work Together

During an event, American astronaut Sunita Williams said that while there is a kind of "space race" going on in the world right now, its purpose is not competition, but to ensure humanity's safe, sustainable, and democratic return to the moon. She emphasized that space missions will only be successful when countries work together. On Tuesday, Sunita Williams interacted freely with young people at an interactive event held at the American Center in Delhi. At the beginning of the program, she said that coming to India felt like coming home, as her father was born in India.

 

 

Interacting with Youth Before Retirement

Sunita Williams, 60, who arrived on stage in a blue spacesuit and space-themed shoes, received a warm welcome from the young audience. During the nearly hour-long conversation, she shared her experiences in a lighthearted and humorous manner. Sunita Williams was born on September 19, 1965, in Ohio, USA. Her father, Deepak Pandya, is from Jhulasan village in Mehsana district of Gujarat, while her mother is of Slovenian origin. She is a former Captain in the US Navy.

 

 

When India's Daughter Stayed in Space for 9 Months

During the conversation, she also shared the challenging experience when her 8-day mission extended to more than 9 months. Due to technical difficulties with the Boeing spacecraft, she had to stay at the International Space Station (ISS) for a longer period. Videos from the ISS were also shown during the event, in which astronauts from different countries were seen celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays. Laughing, Sunita said that they aren't good singers, but they can certainly bake cakes in space. She explained that sometimes there are 12 astronauts on the ISS at the same time, and it's a perfect example of international cooperation.

 

 

What did she say about the 'Space Race'?

When asked whether the increasing participation of private companies is accelerating the space race, she said yes, there is a space race. But it's a race to see how we can return to the moon with the right rules, cooperation, and shared understanding. Comparing the moon to Antarctica, she said that all countries work together there, and the same should happen on the moon.

 

 

Williams also spoke about India's role in space.

During the conversation, Sunita Williams explained that many countries are collaborating on lunar missions through the Artemis Accords, and India is also a part of it. India's goal is to build an Indian space station by 2035 and send an Indian to the moon by 2040. She praised the role of private companies, saying that they are creating new jobs and opportunities for young people in the space sector, whether it's in rockets, satellites, new technologies, or 3D printing.

 

 

The impact of space on life

Finally, Sunita Williams said that seeing Earth from space changes a person's perspective. From above, it seems like we are all one. Then you understand how pointless our conflicts are. This realization teaches people to work together more. Sunita Williams' conversation was not only inspiring for young people but also conveyed the message that the real victory in space lies in cooperation, not competition.