Sunita Williams shares stunning details on India’s view from space: ‘Every time we passed over the Himalayas...’

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has returned to Earth after spending an impressive 286 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She made her first media interaction after returning on March 19 and shared awe-inspiring experiences of seeing India from space. Williams, whose roots are from India, rendered a vivid description of the country's landscape and how it appeared from orbit.
Sunita Williams' experiences of glimpsing India in space were of wonder and adoration. Her thoughts on the Himalayas, the Mumbai-Gujarat seacoast, and the rainbow hues of the nation demonstrate her strong affinity with her Indian origin. As she awaits her visit to India yet again and being able to behold India's presence in space continuing to expand, Williams' venture continues to uplift and highlight the significance of cross-border collaboration for space exploration.

One of the highlights of Williams' space journey was witnessing the mighty Himalayas from above. Every time the ISS passed over the mountain range, Williams and her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, were in awe of the majestic views. She recalled how Wilmore had captured incredible photographs of the Himalayas during their passes. "Every time we went over the Himalayas, Butch got incredible pictures; it’s just amazing," Williams said, describing the scene as nothing short of spectacular.

Williams also talked about the striking view of India’s western coastline, particularly the Mumbai-Gujarat region. As the ISS passed over the coast, she noted how the fishing fleets off the shores of Gujarat served as a visual beacon. This view gave them a sort of arrival feel to the subcontinent," she said. "When you are coming from the east, to get into Gujarat and Mumbai, the fishing fleet off the shore there gives you a little sense of a beacon that here we come," she explained. She further noted that the view of India from space presented a network of lights, with large cities shining brightly and connecting through the smaller towns.

Williams also shared her fascination with the diverse topography of India. She described how the land seemed to ripple, a result of the geological collision of tectonic plates that created the unique landscape. The country’s variety of colors—ranging from the earthy tones of the mountains to the lush greens of the forests—left her captivated. "It’s like this ripple that happened, obviously when the plates collided, and then as it flowed down into India," Williams observed. This vivid description of India's landscape painted a picture of the country’s natural beauty from space.
As part of her reflections on India from orbit, Williams highlighted the Himalayas as one of the most awe-inspiring features visible from space. Whether during the day or night, the mountain range stood out, providing a breathtaking foreground to the view of India. "Just incredible to look at at night as well as during the day, highlighted, of course, by the Himalayas, which is just incredible," Williams said. The sight of these towering mountains remains a significant memory for her during her time aboard the ISS.

In addition to sharing her experiences in space, Williams expressed a heartfelt desire to visit her father’s homeland, India. She spoke with excitement about the idea of reconnecting with her roots and meeting people from her father’s country. "I hope, and I think for sure, I’m gonna be going back to my father’s home country and visiting with people," she shared. This statement reflects her strong emotional connection to India and the cultural ties she holds dear.
While conducting the media interaction, Williams was also thrilled regarding the Axiom mission set to feature Indian Air Force test pilot and ISRO astronaut Subhanshu Shukla. Shukla's participation in the mission is a huge milestone for the increasing presence of India in space exploration. Williams was thrilled at the Indian astronaut's journey and said it was "pretty awesome" to notice India's space program developing at such a rapid pace.
The near-future mission, Axiom, sends astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule to the ISS. This is historically important because, for the first time, one of the crew members will be an Indian. Williams has recognised this milestone which speaks of collaboration between nations across the globe regarding space exploration at a time that India is continuously scaling new heights in its programme.
Sunita Williams' identification with India runs extremely deep due to her family life. Her dad, Deepak Pandya, was born in Gujarat and settled in the US in 1958 for his medical profession. Williams was brought up in Ohio by Deepak and Ursuline Bonnie Pandya. Williams is always telling about her roots being Indian and the sense of pride that he derives from these origins. Her interaction with the media highlighted the depth at which cultural identity had created her experience of being an astronaut.

While Williams and Wilmore had initially been posted aboard the ISS for only eight days, complications pushed their homecoming back. They ended up spending a historic 286 days in space, which was extended significantly into their mission. On March 19, 2025, after a successful outcome to the Crew-10 mission, Williams and Wilmore finally returned to Earth.
Williams and the other astronauts, including Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, were welcomed back to Earth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on their return. Their successful mission to the ISS, where SpaceX and NASA collaborated, was a giant leap in space exploration. Williams' return after having been in space for almost nine months was greeted as an extraordinary feat by her and the world of space.
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