MOHAMMAD ZIYAUDDIN
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday warmly welcomed NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her fellow Crew-9 members as they returned to Earth after a prolonged mission to the International Space Station. Expressing his admiration for their incredible journey, Modi praised their unwavering determination, calling it an inspiration for millions of people worldwide.
"Welcome back, Crew-9! The Earth missed you," Modi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating their safe return.
The NASA astronauts—Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, and Butch Wilmore—along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth on early Wednesday morning, aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft splashed down safely in the waters off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida.
For Williams and Wilmore, the mission took an unexpected turn. Initially scheduled to be an eight-day mission, their journey extended to over nine months due to several issues with the spacecraft, including helium leaks and thruster failures, which rendered their spacecraft unsafe. The spacecraft had to return without them in September. Despite these challenges, the Crew-9 astronauts’ perseverance never wavered, reflecting their extraordinary resilience.
“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 will forever inspire millions,” Prime Minister Modi said in his tribute to the astronauts.
Modi also spoke about the essence of space exploration, emphasizing that it is about pushing the limits of human potential, daring to dream, and having the courage to transform those dreams into reality. He highlighted Sunita Williams as an example of this spirit, calling her a “trailblazer and an icon” who has exemplified this mindset throughout her remarkable 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,” the Prime Minister added.
Williams’ return marks yet another significant achievement in her career, and the entire Crew-9 mission stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of those who venture into the unknown in the pursuit of knowledge and exploration.
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