The Hindu : Front Page : Sunita Williams may return on June 19

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Sunday, Jun 03, 2007
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Sunita Williams may return on June 19

Space shuttle Atlantis gets green signal for launch

HOUSTON: Depending upon favourable weather conditions, Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams will return to Earth aboard the Atlantis shuttle and join her friends and family on June 19, after her six-month stay in space — the longest period spent by a woman there.

This was revealed by NASA sources following certification of Flight Readiness by its senior managers on May 30 and 31 at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, where Atlantis got a green signal for launch on June 8.

All, especially Ms. Williams' parents, Deepak Pandya, a renowned neuroanatomist, and mother Bonnie Pandya, are eagerly awaiting her return.

"Although we have been in touch via polycom, video-conferencing device, and have seen her during this period, it will be a joy to meet her after so many months,'' Mr. Pandya told PTI.

Ms. Williams will be in rehab for at least 45 days, depending on her overall health condition, after which her parents will join her in Houston, where she has been living since 1998 after being selected as astronaut by NASA. — PTI

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