Born of Gujarati parents in Euclid, Ohio, Williams, 44, holds the longest space flight of 195 days for space women. Williams would be joined by flight engineers Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide on Soyuz 31 flight to the space station in June 2010.
The announcement in this regard was made by - NASA and its international partners, the Russia Federal Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which have assigned four new International Space Station crews.
NASA said William would become the commander of the International Space Station in October 2012. Selected by NASA in June 1998, Williams served as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station. She launched with the crew of STS-116 on December 9, 2006, docking with the station on December 11, 2006.
As a member of the Expedition-14 crew Williams established a world record for females with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes of EVA.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson subsequently broke the record in 2008 with her five total spacewalks. Williams concluded her tour of duty as a member of the Expedition-15 crew returning to Earth with the STS-117 crew to land at Edwards Air Force Base on June 22, 2007.
During her increment in space, Williams broke the existing record by Shannon Lucid, setting a new record for females of 195 days in space.
Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams who spent a record 195 days in space, on Saturday met United Progressive Alliance chief Sonia GandhiDressed in an off-white embroidered salwar suit, the 42-year-old astronaut was accompanied by some family members at the 40-minute meeting.
Also Read: Savouring Sunita's Space Lessons
Williams is slated to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries during her stay in the capital. The astronaut, who arrived here to a warm welcome this morning, will be in Delhi till October 4. She will interact with school children on Monday and share with them her experience as a space
sonia: hey, what was it like up there in space?
sunita: fantastic. very diiferent from india you might say - very peaceful.
sonia: ha, ha , ha. i bet.
sunita: ha, ha, ha. but india can be fun too.
sonia: right. these brown people just love us don't they?
sunita: may be we are the highest caste, and we may not know it.
sonia: whites are above all the castes. err, i mean whites are above caste. (winks)
sunita: hahaha. well, speaking of above, i must tell you that one good thing going up in space was that i am now disabused of the illusion.
sonia: what's that.
sunita: i looked for heavenly father while i was up there. between you and me, he does not exist.
sonia: that makes me feel like nun teresa.
sunita: say what?
sonia: yes, i feel a dark void in my heart.
sunita: may be you should go up in space, and come back and make it public.
sonia: the nazi pope will go absolutely nuts if i did that. but i love space.
sunita: i know; i mean, narendra modi told me that - that you love space.
sonia (flattered): really!!! isn't he just wonderful?
sonia (confused): but how the heck does he know - or can he know? when did he ever see me watch the space?
sunita: he says you have a favorite spot in space.
sonia: really, what space spot?
sunita: one that manmoan singh occupies.
sonia: ummmmmmmmmmm, i am going to get narendra for that.
sunita: fantastic. very diiferent from india you might say - very peaceful.
sonia: ha, ha , ha. i bet.
sunita: ha, ha, ha. but india can be fun too.
sonia: right. these brown people just love us don't they?
sunita: may be we are the highest caste, and we may not know it.
sonia: whites are above all the castes. err, i mean whites are above caste. (winks)
sunita: hahaha. well, speaking of above, i must tell you that one good thing going up in space was that i am now disabused of the illusion.
sonia: what's that.
sunita: i looked for heavenly father while i was up there. between you and me, he does not exist.
sonia: that makes me feel like nun teresa.
sunita: say what?
sonia: yes, i feel a dark void in my heart.
sunita: may be you should go up in space, and come back and make it public.
sonia: the nazi pope will go absolutely nuts if i did that. but i love space.
sunita: i know; i mean, narendra modi told me that - that you love space.
sonia (flattered): really!!! isn't he just wonderful?
sonia (confused): but how the heck does he know - or can he know? when did he ever see me watch the space?
sunita: he says you have a favorite spot in space.
sonia: really, what space spot?
sunita: one that manmoan singh occupies.
sonia: ummmmmmmmmmm, i am going to get narendra for that.
