'I'm happy for her': NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' mother speaks about daughter's extended space stay

Sunita Williams' mother says astronaut is happy in space despite extended stay

Bonnie Pandya, mother of astronaut Sunita Williams, remains unfazed by her daughter’s prolonged mission in space. She says Williams is happy and honoured to be there, adding that astronauts are used to long stays aboard the International Space Station.

Astronauts prepared for extended missions
Pandya, who lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts, said astronauts do not feel stuck in space. She admitted it was surprising to hear about the delay but noted that such situations are common. She recalled how previous missions had taken multiple attempts before astronauts could return safely.

Speaking to NewsNation, she said she was not worried about her daughter. Williams has been to space before and knows what she is doing, she added. Pandya also dismissed concerns about being away from her daughter for an extended time.

“She’s doing what she loves,” Pandya said. “How could I feel sad about it? I’m happy for her.”

Health concerns and expected return date
Elon Musk recently claimed that the Biden administration had left Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore stranded in space. Pandya dismissed these concerns, saying the astronauts were simply following scientific protocols.

“This is science, and they are doing what they do,” she said. “I don’t think the astronauts see this as political.”

Williams and Wilmore launched on June 5 for an eight-day mission, but technical issues with Starliner extended their stay to 264 days. Problems included thruster failures and helium leaks, delaying their return.

Some experts have raised concerns about Williams’ health, pointing to recent photos where she appears thinner. NASA, however, insists both astronauts are healthy and monitored closely by agency doctors. Pandya reassured that they exercise daily for two and a half hours, keeping them in good condition.

NASA expects Williams and Wilmore to return around March 19 or 20.