Sunita Williams is an American astronaut and retired U.S. Navy officer of Indian-Slovenian descent. She is known for her extensive time in space, record-setting spacewalks, and contributions to space exploration.

Early Life and Education

• Full Name: Sunita Lyn Williams
• Born: September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, USA
• Parents:
  • Father: Dr. Deepak Pandya (Indian-origin, neuroscientist)
  • Mother: Ursuline Bonnie Pandya (Slovenian descent)
• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Science from the U.S. Naval Academy (1987)
  • Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Florida Institute of Technology (1995)

Military and NASA Career

• U.S. Navy:

  • Became a helicopter pilot, flying H-46 Sea Knights for combat support and rescue missions
  • Became a test pilot and later transitioned to the NASA astronaut program in 1998

• NASA Missions:

  1. Expedition 14/15 (2006-2007) – First long-duration space mission; set records for female astronauts in spacewalks
  2. Expedition 32/33 (2012) – Became the second woman to command the International Space Station (ISS)
  3. Boeing Starliner-1 (2024-2025) – First operational crewed flight of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner; mission extended due to technical issues

Records and Achievements

• Total Time in Space: Over 321 days across multiple missions
• Spacewalks: 7 spacewalks, totaling over 50 hours
• First Woman to:
  • Command the ISS twice
  • Run a marathon in space (Boston Marathon on ISS in 2007)

Personal Life

• Married to: Michael J. Williams, a police officer
• Hobbies: Running, swimming, biking, flying, and reading
• Indian Connection: Her ancestral roots trace back to Jhulasan village in Gujarat, India, where she is celebrated as a role model

Sunita Williams continues to be an inspiration for aspiring astronauts and scientists worldwide, especially young women in STEM fields.