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New Delhi: Sunita Williams successfully left the International Space Station (ISS) at 10.35 am (IST) on Tuesday on a SpaceX capsule that is scheduled to splash into the Ocean near Florida on Wednesday. Sunita and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore were forced to spend over nine months at the ISS after their spacecraft developed a glitch.
Sunita, Wilmore and two other astronauts are on board the SpaceX capsule that is returning to Earth.
Meanwhile, it has now come to be known that a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was physically delivered to Sunita by Mike Massimino, one of the astronauts who travelled to the ISS in the capsule that is bringing her back.
According to union minister Jitendra Singh, Modi handed over the letter to Massimino recently, during a meeting. Singh posted a copy of the letter on ‘X’ on Tuesday. In the letter, the PM has stated: “1.4 billion Indians have always taken great pride in your achievements. Recent developments have yet again showcased your inspirational fortitude and perseverance.”
Modi further wrote: “Even though you are thousands of miles away, you continue to remain close to our hearts. The people of India are praying for your good health and success in your mission…..After your return, we are looking forward to seeing you in India. It will be a pleasure for India to host one of its most illustrious daughters.”
The PM has also mentioned Deepak Pandya, Sunita’s father, who belonged to Jhulasan village in Mehsana, Gujarat. Residents of the village are keeping close watch of developments and praying for her safe return to Earth. Sunita, who was born in the US, has visited Jhulasan twice in the past. Residents are now waiting to receive her for the third time.
“Our village has a daughter and her achievement is so big that we keep thinking about her. We pray to God that she returns safely to earth. And even after her return, we want her to come to our village when she is fit and healthy,” Vishal Patel, headmaster of Jhulasan Primary School, has been quoted as saying by ETV Bharat.