Sunita Williams (born 19 September 1965) is the second woman of Indian origin to go to space through the American space agency NASA. She belongs to Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. She has set a new world record by staying for 194 days and 18 hours as a female astronaut. Her father Deepak Pandya is a doctor in America.
Sunita Lynn Pandya Williams was born on September 19, 1965 in Euclid town (now Cleveland), Ohio, USA. Her father, Dr. Deepak N. Pandya, is a well-known neurologist (MD) who hails from the Indian state of Gujarat. Suni (Sunita)’s mother, Bonnie Jalokar Pandya, is from Slovenia. Sunita Williams has an elder brother, Jai Thomas Pandya, and an elder sister, Diana Ann Pandya. Her father moved from Ahmedabad to Boston, USA in 1958 when Sunita was less than a year old. Although the children were not very happy to leave their grandparents, numerous uncles, aunts and cousins, the family encouraged their father Deepak in his medical profession.
Born in Euclid, Ohio, Sunita is originally from Massachusetts. She is married to Michael J. Williams. After completing high school from Massachusetts, she completed her BS (graduate degree) in Physical Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1987. After that, in 1995, she completed her MS in Engineering Management from Florida Institute of Technology.
In June 1998, she was selected in the US space agency NASA and her training began. Sunita is the second woman of Indian origin who went on a US space mission. Sunita Williams also visited India in September/October 2007. Sunita, who has been associated with NASA since June 1998, has so far flown 2770 flights in a total of 30 different spacecraft. Sunita is also associated with organizations like the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Society of Flight Test Engineers and the American Helicopter Association.
Sunita Williams is a true story of ‘one woman, many personalities’. Sunita Williams has been a naval aviator, helicopter pilot, test pilot, professional sailor, diver, swimmer, charity fundraiser, animal lover, marathon runner and now astronaut and world record holder. Rising from an ordinary personality, Sunita recognized her extraordinary potential and harnessed it to its full potential through hard work and self-confidence. With her extraordinary success, she has set a model for those who wish to follow in her footsteps. She has achieved this success with the support of her loving and supportive family and friends.
For her achievements in the field, she has been awarded several honors such as Navy Commendation Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal. Sunita Williams was awarded Padma Bhushan in the field of Science and Engineering by the Government of India in 2008.
