UPDATE : Shuttle ends mission with California landing. The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis touches down at Edwards Air Force Base, California June 22, 2007.
Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams is preparing to return home on Thursday after a 194-day record in space. Cloudy skies and thunderstorms are delaying this return in Florida, US. As informed by NASA, the shuttle that blasted off to fetch Sunita Williams and install new solar power panels aboard the International Space Station has enough fuel and supplies to stay in space through Sunday.
Williams has been replaced at the station by American astronaut Clayton Anderson, who is scheduled to stay aboard the outpost until October. And it is because of her Indian origin that this shuttle mission attracted considerable interest in India. At the time of the launch, her uncle, aunt and cousins in Ahmedabad were glued to the television. She says that she learnt a lot from Kalpana. Just being with her was great fun. Kalpana had a lot of different interests. One of the interests was in Indian music. And they both used to listen to Indian classical music together, informs her father.
Priests, teachers and students at a Haryana school, the alma mater of deceased astronaut Kalpana Chawla, are praying for the safe return of Indian American Sunita Williams from space on Thursday night.
Sunita Williams is another woman astronaut who has touched stars. Let's pray for her safe arrival back to home ! Long Live Sunita Williams !
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