Sunita Williams remains aboard the ISS due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft. Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev and Mike Massimino sent her a selfie, expressing their excitement to meet her in March. NASA has confirmed a Crew-10 mission launch on March 12, with a homecoming on March 19. Artemyev emphasized the challenges of being an astronaut and shared encouraging words for Indian youth during his visit to India.
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June 5, has faced a prolonged stay due to technical difficulties with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Recently, Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, who has participated in three ISS expeditions, met his US colleague Mike Massimino in India. The two took a selfie together and sent it to Williams, brightening her day during her extended mission.
Oleg Artemyev expressed delight, stating, “She (Sunita) is one of the happiest colleagues of mine ever. Now she has been almost 8 months in the orbit. Yesterday I met a colleague of mine, Mike Massimino, from the United States and we took a selfie and we sent it to Sunita Williams.” He added that Williams responded joyfully, and both he and Massimino look forward to seeing her in March.
Since entering space, Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Willmore have faced the decision to return the Starliner to Earth without its crew due to safety concerns. NASA deemed it too risky to attempt their return on the spacecraft, which eventually made a successful landing on September 6. In a recent CNN interview, Williams announced that the scheduled Crew-10 mission is set to launch on March 12, returning them home shortly thereafter on March 19.
When questioned about the challenges faced by astronauts, Artemyev shared, “The life of a cosmonaut is quite a complicated one. You have to spend a lot of time training, practicing. You have to be a highly motivated person and a person who is looking for something new to be in this profession.” His insight highlights the dedication required in the field of space exploration.
During his visit to India, Artemyev also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, presenting both the Indian and Russian flags, symbolizing the strong ties between the two nations. He conveyed, “Told PM Modi it’s a great pleasure to meet that friend of our Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
Furthermore, Artemyev encouraged Indian youth to pursue knowledge by stating, “Read a lot, dream a lot and to study a lot… Learn, learn, learn.” His message underscores the importance of education and ambition in shaping future leaders.
In summary, Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams continues her extended mission aboard the ISS due to the Starliner’s technical issues. Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev’s thoughtful gesture of sending a selfie to Williams, along with his meeting with PM Modi, emphasizes the collaboration between nations in space exploration. As both astronauts prepare for the upcoming Crew-10 mission launch, Artemyev’s insights on the life of a cosmonaut and his encouragement to Indian youth serve as inspirational messages.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
