On Wednesday, industrialist Anand Mahindra, on X, shared a heartfelt welcome message for Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, who returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after an unexpectedly long mission in space. Williams and her fellow Nasa astronaut Barry Wilmore had originally planned for a short stay at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission, but due to technical issues with their Boeing spacecraft, their journey stretched to nine months.
Mahindra recalled meeting Williams nearly two years ago in Washington, D.C., during his visit to the US for the India-US Hi-Tech Handshake event, which coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s trip. Sharing a throwback photo of that encounter—where he was seen with Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor, and Sunita Williams—Mahindra expressed his relief and joy at her safe return.
“When the SpaceX rescue mission was launched, I recalled this chance encounter almost two years ago with @Astro_Suni in Washington. It was an enormous relief to see her and her colleagues’ successful splashdown back on Earth a few hours ago,” he wrote on X.
Praising Williams’ resilience, he also wrote, “She is courage personified, and it’s good to have her back amongst us. Swagatam, Sunita…”
Take a look at the post:
When the SpaceX recue mission was launched, I recalled this chance encounter almost two years ago with @Astro_Suni in Washington.
It was an enormous relief to see her and her colleagues’ successful splashdown back on earth a few hours ago.
She is courage personified and…
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 19, 2025
The post quickly went viral, resonating with many who admired Williams’ journey. One user commented, “What a proud moment! Seeing Sunita Williams return safely is a reminder of the indomitable spirit of Indians across the world. Her courage and dedication make every Indian’s heart swell with pride. Welcome back, Sunita—you’ve made Bharat proud!”
Another user reflected on the significance of space exploration, saying, “Stories like these remind us of the power of exploration and the bravery of those who push boundaries.”
The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Williams, 59, and Wilmore, 62, made a safe splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday morning (IST), several hours after departing the ISS.
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Originally scheduled to remain on the ISS for just one week, the astronauts ended up staying for 286 days, completing 4,576 orbits around Earth and covering a staggering 121 million miles (195 million km) before finally making it home. Joining them on the highly anticipated return mission were Nasa’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbunov.