NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Takes Command of International Space Station

American space agency NASA’s astronaut Sunita Williams has officially taken command of the International Space Station (ISS). This is the second time that Williams has taken command of the ISS. Before this, she had also led a mission in 2012. In June, Williams and his fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore arrived at the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on a mission that lasted just eight days.

However, Williams and Wilmore’s return has been postponed until February next year due to technical problems with the Starliner. The command of ISS has been handed over to Williams by Russian astronaut Oleg Kononenko. Kononenko is scheduled to return to Earth soon. As commander of the ISS, Williams will oversee a variety of operations and research.

Recently, Williams shared his views on the delay in returning to Earth in a video press conference. He described ISS as a ‘happy place’. Williams said that due to his previous experience, the adjustment to life in space has not been difficult. Regarding this, Wilmore had said that there was no consensus regarding his return on the Starliner. His stay has been extended due to some technical problems not being resolved. Wilmore had said that his current situation is for the better in view of the safety concerns with the Starliner.

Williams admitted that there is some stress as her stay on the ISS increases but she is focused on the mission. Both these astronauts had also expressed their desire to cast their vote from space in the upcoming presidential elections in America. There is a contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in this election. The Starliner spacecraft was having difficulties reaching the ISS. Among these, helium leak from spacecraft was also a problem. for this reason NASA And Boeing had decided to bring it to Earth without astronauts. Last month, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had said that these challenges being faced by NASA will be an important lesson for the country’s Gaganyaan mission. ISRO chief, S Somanath had said that this situation is an important lesson for the Gaganyaan mission. The first test flight of this human rated rocket may take place at the end of this year.