This is what ISRO chief Somanath's message to Sunita Williams said

New Delhi:

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief Dr S Somanath, in an exclusive interview to NDTV, said that the delayed return of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams from the International Space Station (ISS) should not be considered an extremely worrying factor, because the ISS is. a safe place with long endurance.

“It’s not just about Sunita Williams or any other astronaut. Being stranded or stuck in one place is not a story we need to have right now. There are nine astronauts there; none of them are in a deadlock situation,” the ISRO chief told NDTV.

“They’ll all have to come back someday. The whole issue is testing a new crew module called Boeing Starliner, its ability to go up there and then come back safely. There’s enough capacity with the ground launch providers (to bring them home) “That’s not a problem. The ISS is a safe place for people to stay for a long time,” he said.

“Today, when we develop a spacecraft like Starliner, the question is whether it can operate reliably for the outward and return journeys. I think that’s what the agencies are thinking,” Dr. Somonath said.

He said ISRO was very proud of Ms Williams for her courage.

“We are all proud of her. She has many missions to her credit. It is a courageous act to be part of the first flight of a new spacecraft. She herself is part of the design team and has used her experience. We are also building a crew module and I can understand the kind of interactions she must have had. We have experience, but she has much more than us. I wish her the best to come back successfully, learn from it and contribute to building the spacecraft,” Dr Somonath said.

On whether ISRO would accept her services as an advisor to India’s space programme, Dr Somanath said the space agency was always welcome to anyone who came up with ideas.

“The space program is after all for all of humanity. A nation can make a spaceship, but it is for humanity. Who knows, tomorrow our spaceship will be the one that goes up there on the rescue missions of ‘another country,’ the ISRO chief said. .

Last week, NASA postponed the return to Earth of the Boeing Starliner from the ISS, carrying its first crew of astronauts, to allow more time to review technical issues.

American astronauts Barrt “Butch” Wilmore and Ms. Williams blasted off June 5 in a final demonstration to earn NASA routine flight certification.

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