Fri Jan 23 06:17:13 UTC 2026: ### Sunita Williams Reflects on Space Career, Expresses “FOMO” for Artemis Moon Mission at Kerala Literature Festival
The Story:
Retired NASA astronaut Sunita Williams shared reflections on her distinguished 27-year career during the inaugural evening of the Kerala Literature Festival on January 22, 2026, in Kozhikode, Kerala. While expressing immense satisfaction with her time in space and the experiences gained, including her role in building the International Space Station (ISS), she also admitted to feeling “FOMO” (fear of missing out) regarding the upcoming Artemis II mission. She lauded the global embrace she felt as an astronaut with Indian heritage, stemming from her Gujarati father.
Key Points:
- Sunita Williams expressed “FOMO” about the upcoming Artemis II mission, NASA’s first crewed Moon mission since 1972, even while enjoying exploring Earth.
- During her 27-year NASA career, she logged 608 days in space, the second most for a NASA astronaut.
- She holds the record for most spacewalk time by a woman, totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes.
- Williams spoke of missing simple Earthly joys while in space, such as rain, wind, sand, and the company of animals.
- She acknowledged the support she received from India during her missions and expressed gratitude for being embraced as a daughter of India.
- The Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) 2026, in its ninth edition, features over 400 speakers and concludes on January 25, 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Sunita Williams’s reflections highlight the personal sacrifices and unique joys associated with a career in space exploration.
- The article underscores the continued excitement surrounding lunar missions as demonstrated by her FOMO, even decades after the initial Moon landings.
- The event emphasizes the cross-cultural reach of space exploration and the role of individuals with diverse heritages in advancing scientific endeavors.
First Piper 