Tue Mar 18 14:36:00 UTC 2025: ## Astronaut Sunita Williams: Boeing Starliner Was Safe, Despite Challenges
**Houston, TX** – Eight years before the Boeing Starliner experienced technical difficulties, leading to an extended ISS mission, astronaut Sunita Williams expressed confidence in the spacecraft’s safety. In a 2016 interview with NDTV, Williams, who collaborated with Boeing on the Starliner’s development, acknowledged “bumps” and “heated discussions” during the design process. However, she asserted that these collaborative challenges would be resolved, resulting in a safe spacecraft for human flight.
Williams, who holds the record for the most cumulative spacewalk time by a woman, highlighted the close partnership between NASA and private companies like Boeing and SpaceX. She explained that astronauts were actively involved in the Starliner’s development, reviewing engineering designs and offering input. This collaborative approach, she said, involved “a little bit of debate” and rigorous discussion to ensure the best possible outcome.
The interview also revealed a personal side of Williams. She recounted bringing samosas to the International Space Station (ISS), a culinary tribute to her Indian heritage. She also shared her plans to bring a Ganesh idol as a good luck charm on future missions. Williams spoke fondly of her friendship with fellow Indian-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, reflecting on the calculated risks inherent in space travel and emphasizing the continued pursuit of exploration in the wake of the Columbia disaster. Her father, Deepak Pandya, emigrated from Gujarat, India, to the United States in 1957. Williams’s connection to her Indian roots was evident throughout the interview.
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