Celebrating from 260 Miles Above Earth on ISS: Sunita Williams Extends Diwali Greetings from Space

Washington: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been in for nearly five months, extended her warmest wishes for Diwali to those celebrating festival in United States and around globe.

In a video mess shared from International Station (ISS), Indian-origin astronaut said that this year she h unique opportunity to observe Diwali from 260 miles above Earth and reminisced about her far's efforts to keep ir cultural roots alive by teaching her and her family about Diwali and or Indian festivals.

"Greetings from ISS," Williams said. "I want to extend my warmest wishes for a Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating today at White House and around world."

"This year I have unique opportunity to celebrate Diwali from 260 miles above earth on ISS...My far kept and shared his cultural roots by teaching us about Diwali and or Indian festivals," she furr said.

She emphasised festival's mess of hope and renewal, saying that Diwali is a time of joy as goodness in world prevails.

Williams also expressed gratitude to US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for ir participation in Diwali festivities and for recognising contributions of community.

"Diwali is a time of joy as goodness in world prevails...Thank you to President and Vice President for celebrating Diwali with our community today and for recognising many contributions of our community," she said.

mess was particularly poignant as it came during a special Diwali celebration held at White House.

tably, Sunita Williams along with her fellow astronaut Butch Willmore have been at ISS since June. pair h launched aboard Boeing's Starliner craft on June 5 for its first crewed flight, arriving at station on June 6.

A decision was me to return Starliner to Earth without its crew, and craft successfully returned on September 6 after NASA in August said that it was "too risky" to bring Wilmore and Williams back to Earth.

Wilmore and Williams continued ir work formally as part of expedition and will return in February next year. This means what would have been a week-long test flight, extended to around 8 months.

(Except for heline, this story has t been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)