Veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who recently retired from the agency after a remarkable 27-year career, marked her transition with a visit to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The visit, which took place on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, included an interactive session and an inspirational lecture, offering students and faculty insights into her life in space and her experiences on recent missions.
Williams' career with NASA officially concluded in late December 2025. During her time at NASA, she completed three missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS), accumulating 608 days in space. She also holds the record for the most spacewalking time by a female astronaut.
During her lecture at IIT Delhi, titled "The Making of an Astronaut: Sunita Williams' Story," Williams reflected on the dynamic nature of human space exploration. "It is a very exciting time in human space exploration," she stated, emphasizing that "every new project has its ups and downs, but each one teaches us something and prepares us better for what comes next". She highlighted the importance of careful observation and simple solutions when tackling complex problems, noting that space missions often involve intricate systems, but the answer can sometimes be surprisingly straightforward.
Williams' most recent mission, which began in June 2024, experienced unexpected challenges. Originally planned for only eight days, the mission was extended to nine months due to issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Williams and her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, ultimately returned to Earth in March 2025.
Beyond her technical expertise, Williams also reflected on the profound impact of space travel on one's perspective. Speaking about the experience of zero gravity, she said, "When you take gravity away, you start to understand the nuances of how materials, medicine, and even human behaviour change. That understanding helps us learn more about ourselves and the universe".
The visit also included a stop at the American Center in New Delhi, where she participated in an interactive session titled "Eyes on the Stars, Feet on the Ground". During this session, she emphasized the importance of unity and transcending perceived differences, stating, "Every person I know is there, every animal, every plant, everything we know is there. We're all in this one little space in our solar system, and I think it changes your perception about us having any differences".
Notably, Williams, whose father is of Indian origin, also met with the family of late astronaut Kalpana Chawla during her India visit, sharing a touching moment with Chawla's mother and sister.
Williams' accomplishments include nine spacewalks, totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes. She is also an accomplished helicopter and fixed-wing pilot with over 4,000 flight hours in 40 different aircraft. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has lauded Williams as "a trailblazer in human spaceflight".
In addition to her engagements in Delhi, Williams is scheduled to participate in the Kerala Literature Festival, further demonstrating her commitment to sharing her experiences and inspiring future generations. Reflecting on her future, Williams stated, "I will occupy my time in helping the bigger picture, the team, the collaboration, to make sure that the people who are doing the science experiments can do that without ever thinking about those other things. So that's my method".
