Indian-American Astronaut Sunita Williams Extends Diwali Greetings from Space

Sunita Williams, aboard the ISS, extended Diwali greetings and reflected on cultural heritage and gratitude towards U.S. leaders during a significant festival celebration from space.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been stationed at the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly five months, extended Diwali greetings to those celebrating the festival in the United States and across the globe. The Indian-origin astronaut used the opportunity to share her perspective on the festival’s significance and cultural heritage from a unique vantage point.

In her message from the ISS, Williams shared how her father’s efforts to uphold Indian traditions shaped her understanding of Diwali and other Indian festivals. Reflecting on these family traditions, she conveyed the festival’s message of hope and renewal and their significance as a time when joy and goodness prevail.

Williams also expressed gratitude towards President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their involvement in Diwali celebrations and their recognition of the Indian-American community’s contributions to the country. Her message was particularly relevant as it coincided with a special Diwali celebration at the White House.

Since her arrival at the ISS in June, Williams has been conducting various scientific and maintenance tasks alongside her colleague, astronaut Butch Wilmore. The duo reached the space station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 6, marking its inaugural crewed mission.

Originally, the Starliner was intended to return them to Earth in early September after a short stay. However, following NASA’s assessment that it was “too risky” to bring them back on the spacecraft at that time, the decision was made to return the Starliner to Earth without a crew. The spacecraft successfully completed an uncrewed landing on September 6, extending Williams and Wilmore’s planned one-week mission into what is now expected to be an eight-month stay on the ISS.

Williams’ work on the ISS is set to continue until her scheduled return in February next year. Throughout this period, she and her team have performed critical experiments and ensured the space station’s functionality remained in optimal condition.

By celebrating Diwali from space, Williams showcased the power of cultural traditions and their role in sustaining morale and connectivity, even in the most distant of places. Her Diwali message conveys the message of strength and reach of Indian heritage in ways in which cultural observances bring people together across continents—and, in this case, across orbit.