Sunita Williams, a renowned NASA astronaut, is set to return to Earth on Wednesday after an extended stay at the International Space Station (ISS). Her journey was delayed due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. While her professional achievements are well-known, her family background and personal life also draw attention.
Sunita Williams’ Parents
Sunita Williams was born to Deepak Pandya and Ursuline Bonnie Zalokar.
Father: Deepak Pandya
Deepak Pandya hails from Jhulasan, Gujarat, India. He completed his Intermediate Science (I.S.) from Gujarat University in 1953 and later earned his M.D. in 1957. After moving to the United States, he completed his internship and residency in Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1964, he joined Case Western Reserve University as a postdoctoral fellow and later worked at various hospitals and research centers across the U.S.
Mother: Ursuline Bonnie Zalokar
Ursuline Bonnie Zalokar is a Slovenian-American. She met Deepak Pandya in 1957 after he moved to the U.S., and they married shortly after. In a recent interview with NewsNation, she expressed pride in her daughter’s extended stay at the ISS. She said, “She’s doing what she loves. So how could I feel sad about it? I’m happy for her.”
Sunita Williams’ Husband: Michael J. Williams
Sunita Williams is married to Michael J. Williams, a federal marshal based in Texas. Both Sunita and Michael share a background in flying helicopters before pursuing their respective careers. They have been married for 20 years and do not have children.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal in August 2024, Michael Williams described space as “her happy place.” He expressed his pride in her passion and dedication to space exploration.
Extended Stay at ISS: Mission Details
Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore arrived at the ISS in June 2024 to test Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft during its first crewed flight. However, propulsion issues with the Starliner delayed their return.
On Tuesday, both astronauts undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST and began their 17-hour journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. They are expected to splash down off the coast of Florida at around 3:27 am IST on Wednesday.
