Sunita Williams, an American astronaut of Indian-Slovenian descent, holds the record for the most spacewalk time by a woman at 62 hours and 6 minutes across nine EVAs. Therefore, she completed three ISS missions totaling 608 days in space, including a 2024 Boeing Starliner test that extended unexpectedly to nine months due to technical issues before her March 2025 return via SpaceX Crew-9. In addition, Sunita Williams age is 60 (born September 19, 1965), and she proudly celebrates her Sunita Williams Indian roots from Gujarat while serving as a retired U.S. Navy captain.
| Category | Subcategory | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Details | Sunita Williams Age | 60 years (born September 19, 1965) |
| Full Name | Sunita Lyn Williams (née Pandya) | |
| Nicknames | Suni (US), Sončka (Slovenia) | |
| Sunita Williams Indian | Indian-Slovenian heritage; father from Jhulasan, Gujarat | |
| Birthplace | Euclid, Ohio; Hometown: Needham, Massachusetts | |
| Nationality | American | |
| Family | Sunita Williams Husband | Michael J. Williams (federal marshal, Texas; married over 20 years; no children) |
| Father | Deepak Pandya (Indian-American neuroanatomist, Gujarat) | |
| Mother | Ursuline Bonnie Pandya (Slovene-American) | |
| Siblings | Brother: Jay Thomas; Sister: Dina Annad | |
| Physical/Education | Height/Weight | Not publicly detailed; fitness-focused (ran marathon in space) |
| Education | BS Physical Science, US Naval Academy (1987); MS Engineering Mgmt, Florida Tech (1995) | |
| Career Stats | Total Space Time | 608 days across 3 missions |
| Spacewalks | 9 EVAs, 62h 6m (women’s record, 4th overall) | |
| NASA Selection | 1998; Retired Navy Captain |
Early Life
Sunita Williams grew up in Needham, Massachusetts, as the youngest of three siblings. For instance, her father Deepak Pandya hailed from Gujarat, India, while her mother Bonnie was Slovene-American, blending cultures she later honored in space with items like a samosa and Slovenian flag. Therefore, she graduated Needham High School in 1983 before pursuing a Naval Academy degree, laying foundations for her aviation career.
Military Career
Williams commissioned as a U.S. Navy ensign in 1987 and earned her Naval Aviator wings in 1989. Consequently, she flew over 3,000 hours in 30+ aircraft, including H-46 Sea Knight deployments for Desert Shield and Hurricane Andrew relief. Moreover, as a test pilot from 1993, she instructed at Naval Test Pilot School before USS Saipan deployment during her 1998 NASA selection.
Sunita Williams Space Missions
Williams excels in long-duration ISS stays and EVAs. Firstly, Expedition 14/15 (2006-2007) via STS-116 lasted 195 days with four spacewalks (29h+), setting early women’s records. Secondly, Expedition 32/33 (2012) via Soyuz TMA-05M spanned 127 days; she commanded Expedition 33 and completed three more EVAs. Finally, Boeing Starliner CFT/Expedition 71/72 (2024-2025) extended from 8 days to 286 days due to thruster/heli leaks—her Sunita Williams stuck in space saga—before SpaceX Crew-9 return on March 18, 2025.
Sunita Williams in Space Highlights
During missions, Williams ran the 2007 Boston Marathon (4h24m) and a space triathlon in 2012 using ISS equipment. However, the 2024 Starliner issues made headlines as Sunita Williams in space for 9+ months, yet she broke Peggy Whitson’s EVA record at 62h6m. As a result, she conducted maintenance like antenna removal and sample collection, showcasing resilience.
Awards and Honors
Williams earned the Defense Superior Service Medal (x2), Legion of Merit, and NASA’s Space Flight Medal. In addition, India awarded her Padma Bhushan (2008), while Slovenia gave the Golden Order for Merits (2013). Furthermore, she received Russia’s Medal for Merit in Space Exploration and BBC’s 100 Women list (2024).
Sunita Williams Personal Life
Married to helicopter pilot Michael J. Williams, she resides in Houston with dogs; he called space her “happy place.” On the other hand, she practices Hinduism, carrying Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads to orbit. Thus, Sunita Williams biography inspires as a trailblazer, with schools named after her and visits to India/Slovenia.
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