‘I would like India to be part of the next space programme’

American astronaut of Indian origin Sunita Williams would like to go to the moon.

American astronaut of Indian origin Sunita Williams would like to go to the moon.

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“My dream is to go to the moon; see our planet as a whole, which cannot be seen from the international space station. To land on another body with gravity will be fascinating,” said Williams, 47, at the Nehru Science Centre, Worli on Thursday.

Talking to students and teachers, the NASA astronaut spoke on everything from her latest Expedition 33 and the routine she followed in space to fluids floating around in the shuttle, her family, love of samosas and pani puris and pride in her Indian heritage.

Williams, born in the US to a Gujarati father and Slovenian mother, said her parents were her role models. “My dad left home, his country and took a boat to the US without knowing where the adventure would lead. My mom didn’t go to college, did odd jobs and worked at a business school,” she said. “When I have to take a decision, I still think if it would make her proud.”

In India since April 1, Williams has visited science centres in Delhi and Kolkata and will end her week-long trip with a visit to her native village in Gujarat, meeting her fathers’ family members.

Williams, the record holder for the longest spacewalk by a woman (50 hours and 40 minutes) said, “There’s another Kalpana Chawla [first Indian-American astronaut] in the audience and I would like India to be part of the next space programme.” On the challenges of being a woman, Williams said, “At end of the day the helicopter, the spaceship doesn’t know if you’re a boy or girl. You must make decisions because you know what you’re capable of.”

As India readies a Mars mission for November, Williams said, “I am keen to see it succeed. I wish India lots of luck. I will be in the background, cheering.”