New Delhi: Celebrated astronaut and former U.S. Navy officerSunita L. Williamsinteracted with students and faculty at theIndian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)on January 20, 2026, offering rare insights into life beyond Earth and the mindset required for space exploration.
Delivering a lecture titled“The Making of an Astronaut: Sunita Williams’ Story,”she reflected on her experiences during long-duration space missions and spoke about the profound psychological shift astronauts experience while observing Earth from orbit. The event marked the first lecture under theProf V. N. Vazirani Institute Lecture Series, instituted by his sons Vijay and Umesh Vazirani.
Williams spoke about the current phase of human space exploration, calling it a period of rapid learning and progress. She noted that while space missions come with challenges, each effort strengthens preparedness for future exploration.
Sharing a personal perspective, she explained how seeing Earth from space creates a powerful sense of unity. From that vantage point, national borders fade, and the planet appears as a single shared home, reinforcing the idea that humanity is deeply interconnected.
During her visit, Williams metProf Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, and senior officials of the institute. The Director highlighted IIT Delhi’s role in advancing space-related research and its collaborative work withISRO.
The session concluded with an interactive conversation led byProf Shilpi Sharma, Associate Dean for Academic Outreach and New Initiatives. The discussion covered Williams’ early life, her dedication as a competitive swimmer, the importance of discipline, and the role of teamwork during extended space missions.
Williams emphasised that success in space depends heavily on collaboration. She noted that when teams focus on shared goals rather than individual achievements, overall performance improves significantly.
She also spoke about problem-solving in space, explaining that while missions involve complex systems, solutions are sometimes surprisingly simple when approached with careful observation. Highlighting the importance of microgravity research, she described how removing gravity helps scientists better understand materials, medical processes, and even human behaviour.
Recalling a lighter moment from orbit, Williams mentioned sharing Indian food with fellow astronauts aboard the spacecraft, describing it as a reminder of how food connects people—even far above Earth.
