Sudha Murty on Sunita Williams's return to Earth: 'Extremely happy. A daughter has come back home'

Commenting on Sunita Williams's nine-month unplanned stay in space, Sudha Murty said, 'What a difficult period she had when it wasn't sure for how long she will be there [in space], come or not come [to earth].' (Image credit: AFP)

Reacting to the news of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams returning to Earth after spending 286 days in space, Rajya Sabha MP and billionaire philanthropist Sudha Murty on Wednesday said that she was extremely happy.

"I feel extremely happy. A daughter has come back home," she told news agency ANI. "What a difficult period she had when it wasn't sure for how long she will be there [in space], come or not come [to earth]. I am very very happy that she has returned. She has my blessings and congratulations."

#WATCH | Delhi | On astronaut Sunita Williams's return to Earth, Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murthy says, "I feel extremely happy. A daughter has come back home." pic.twitter.com/25wiiPBtdZ
ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended a warm welcome to Williams as she returned to Earth in a SpaceX's Dragon capsule after an extended stay of 9 months in space.

"Welcome back, Crew9! The Earth missed you," PM Modi said on X.

Praising the grit, courage and boundless human spirit of the NASA astronauts, PM Modi said that Sunita Williams and the Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. "Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown will forever inspire millions," he said, adding that space exploration is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream, and having the courage to turn those dreams into reality.

"Sunita Williams, a trailblazer and an icon, has exemplified this spirit throughout her career. We are incredibly proud of all those who worked tirelessly to ensure their safe return. They have demonstrated what happens when precision meets passion and technology meets tenacity," he said.

Welcome back, #Crew9! The Earth missed you. Theirs has been a test of grit, courage and the boundless human spirit. Sunita Williams and the #Crew9 astronauts have once again shown us what perseverance truly means. Their unwavering determination in the face of the vast unknown pic.twitter.com/FkgagekJ7C Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2025

President Droupadi Murmu praised Crew-9's journey, calling it a story of determination, teamwork, and courage.

"Congratulations to the entire team for Crew-9's safe return! India's daughter Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts have inspired us all with their perseverance and dedication," she wrote on X. "I salute their resolve and wish them good health!"