Sunita Williams, Indian-origin NASA astronaut along with her colleagues on the International Space Station (ISS), will have an extraordinary opportunity to welcome the New Year. Sunita Williams, currently in space, will see 16 sunrises and sunsets on New Year as the ISS, where she is located, keeps on the move.
A post on X today from the space station handle read: “As 2024 comes to a close today, the Exp 72 crew will see 16 sunrises and sunsets while soaring into the New Year. Seen here are several sunsets pictured over the years from the orbital outpost”.
Sunita Williams to see 16 sunrises and sunsets
The Expedition team will observe 16 distinct sunrises and sunsets as they transition into 2025 while orbiting Earth at roughly 400 kilometers above. Williams is the commander of the “Expedition 72” mission, which also hosts fellow flight engineers, namely – Alexey Ovchinin, Butch Wilmore, Ivan Vagner, Don Pettit, Aleksandr Gorbunov and Nick Hague.
The number of sunrises the crew will see is estimated based on the number of times the ISS orbits the Earth, approximately 15.5 times per day. This is because it travels at an average speed of about 28,000 kilometres per hour (17,500 miles per hour) at an altitude of around 400 kilometres (250 miles). Each orbit takes roughly 90 minutes to complete.
Sunita Williams’ New Year in space
Sunita Williams, who started for the space station in June in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft along with astronaut Barry Wilmore, and initially expected to be back in 9 days, had to spend Christmas at the space station too. What started as an eight-day mission on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft had to be stretched owing to technical snag. Her return is now scheduled for March 2025.
This extended duration enables her to experience multiple New Year celebrations, as the ISS completes an orbit approximately every 90 minutes.
The crew’s New Year festivities will include special meals crafted from Earth-supplied fresh ingredients. They will maintain connections with their loved ones through video communications to support their emotional health during this extended mission.
Williams has previously shared her enthusiasm about such distinctive experiences, referring to space as her “happy place.” The crew recently shared their Christmas greetings, demonstrating their festive spirit whilst stationed away from Earth.
Aboard the ISS, the astronauts have embraced holiday customs, including decorations and special meal preparations, whilst continuing their vital scientific studies. As they anticipate welcoming 2025 multiple times, Williams and her fellow crew members exemplify the outstanding accomplishments in human space exploration.
Williams and Mr Barrymore are now hoping to be back in March after yet another postponement by NASA. They were set to return in February 2025, but it was postponed due to the delay in SpaceX’s Crew-10 mission, who have to relieve them. The Crew-9’s two astronauts had arrived at the space station in late September, with two empty seats for Wilmore and Williams. The plan was for all four to return home in February 2025.
Source: Economic Times
