Mamata Banerjee hails Sunita Williams, calls her ‘Daughter of India’ after return to Earth

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore successfully returned to Earth after spending 286 days in space. Their journey back was facilitated by SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near the Florida coast at 3:27 AM IST on Wednesday. They were immediately transported to the Kennedy Space Center for medical evaluation and post-mission protocols.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on their return, calling Sunita "India’s daughter" in a post on X. She expressed her happiness, stating, "Our daughter of India has returned to us, and we are extremely delighted and excited. Hail their courage, hail their return, hail the glory of humanity!" She also extended her gratitude to the rescue team for ensuring their safe return.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also acknowledged the astronauts' return, stating, "The Earth has missed you for so long!" NASA and SpaceX hailed the mission as a significant achievement in human spaceflight. Sunita Williams, who has completed multiple space missions, holds records for long-duration space stays and spacewalks. This mission, initially planned for just eight days, extended to nine months due to technical issues, delaying their return.

Their return was closely monitored worldwide, with the Falcon 9 rocket initiating their descent from the International Space Station on March 18. Upon their arrival back on Earth, both astronauts underwent initial health assessments before being moved to the Kennedy Space Center. Prolonged exposure to microgravity often causes physical challenges for astronauts, requiring an adjustment period before resuming normal activities.

In West Bengal, BJP legislator Shankar Ghosh proposed an official congratulatory resolution in the state assembly, which Speaker Biman Banerjee approved. Before the proposal was officially presented, BJP legislators voiced their support for the recognition outside the assembly. The event has drawn political attention, with multiple leaders acknowledging the astronauts’ contributions.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will now remain in quarantine for several weeks as part of standard post-spaceflight procedures. This is to ensure their bodies readapt to Earth's atmosphere and to mitigate any health risks from spaceborne or Earth-based microbes. The mission marked another milestone in human space exploration, highlighting advancements in space travel and astronaut recovery operations.