Fri Sep 20 13:33:01 UTC 2024: ## Indian-American Astronaut Sunita Williams Celebrates 59th Birthday in Space, Stay Extended to Eight Months
**Houston, Texas:** Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams celebrated her 59th birthday on September 19th aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking her second birthday in space. Williams, currently stranded on the ISS due to a faulty Boeing Starliner spacecraft, is expected to return to Earth on a SpaceX capsule in February 2024.
Despite the unexpected extended stay, Williams remained focused on her mission, dedicating her birthday to essential maintenance tasks and scientific research. She worked alongside fellow astronaut Don Pettit to maintain the ISS’s life support systems and replaced filters in the station’s waste and hygiene compartment.
Williams’s current mission is her third to space, making her the first woman to fly on the maiden mission of the Starliner. She has spent a total of 322 days in space, making her the second woman astronaut with the highest number of spacewalks.
To celebrate her birthday, Williams received a special rendition of the legendary singer Mohd Rafi’s birthday song “Bar Bar Din Ye Aaye” from Indian music company Saregama, featuring performances from Bollywood director Karan Johar and singers Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Hariharan, and Neeti Mohan.
Williams is also expected to cast her vote in the 2024 US presidential elections from space.
While acknowledging the unexpected circumstances, Williams shared her positive perspective on the situation. “That’s how things go in this business,” she said during a recent video press conference. “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space.”
Despite the initial eight-day mission plan, Williams’s stay in space has been extended to eight months. She remains dedicated to her scientific work and is eagerly awaiting her return to Earth.
First Piper 