Sunita to speak at Intl Astronautical Congress
New
Delhi,
Sep
23:
After
sharing
her
experience
with
the
students
of
Gujarat,
Indian-origin
American
astronaut
Sunita
Williams
will
speak
at
the
58th
International
Astronautical
Congress
(IAC),
which
is
starting
tomorrow
in
Hyderabad.
The
58th
Session
of
the
IAC,
with
theme
"Touching
Humanity:
Space
for
Improving
quality
of
life",
is
being
hosted
by
the
Indian
Space
Research
Organisation
(ISRO)
and
the
Astronautical
Society
of
India
(ASI)
which
will
last
til
September
28.
Williams" visit to India may become an annual affair, as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has requested her to give time to the state for at least three to four weeks every year.
“I would ask her to come to the state regularly and meet students and guide them with her knowledge," said Modi while felicitating her yesterday.
Williams, who arrived in Gujarat on September 20 for the first time after her successful expedition aboard space shuttle Discovery, said that India is a special place.
"I challenge you to bring your special things to the table; you have a lot to offer. India, it's really a wonderful place," she said.
The student community definitely appeared fired up after interacting with Williams.
"After interacting with Williams, we have learnt a lot," Mansi, a student, said.
Williams became famous across the country during her six-month stay on the International Space Station beginning last December -- the longest ever for a female astronaut.
She is a graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy and was appointed to serve as a backup crew for the International Space Station Expedition 10.
Before
migrating
to
the
US,
Williams' father
was
a
practicing
doctor
in
Gujarat"s
Junagarh.
Williams
was
born
in
1965
in
Ohio,
and
is
now
married
and
lives
in
Massachusetts.
ANI
>