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Sunita Williams Biography:  Indian-origin astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams was stuck aboard the International Space Station (ISS)after the crew transportation spacecraft hit a technical snag. The spacecraft was earlier scheduled to return to the earth on June 26, faced "small helium system leaks" and "thruster performance,” said Steve Stich, the manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Boeing, the owner of the Streamliner aircraft has said that "there is no rush" and the issue is being reviewed.

Amid the 'space scare', Sunita Williams gained the undivided attention of earthlings and space fans. The woman with the record of maximum 'space walk', Sunita boasts of an inspiring journey from being a Naval Officer to becoming one of the most lauded astronauts.

Here are five points about Sunita Williams, that you should not miss --

1. Sunita Williams was born to Indo-American neuroanatomist Deepak Pandya and Slovene-American Ursuline Bonnie Pandya. The youngest in the family, she has two siblings - a brother Jay Pandya and a sister Dina Anand.

2. Her inclination towards Science and Technology, motivated her to pursue the Bachelor of Science degree in physical science from the United States Naval Academy in 1987. Later, she went on to join the US Naval Force.

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3. Sunita Williams's journey as an astronaut began in 1998 when she was selected as an astronaut candidate and took training at the Johnson Space Center. The illustrious spacewoman took to her journey aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft on July 15, 2012. Due to her exceptional role at ISS, she was appointed commander of the International Space Station in September 2012 and became only the second woman in Human history to achieve the feat.

4. Sunita's father Deepak migrated to the United States from a small Gujarat village called Jhulasan in the Mehsana district. She had visited the state twice, first in 2007 and then in 2013. On her second visit, she visited the Gujarat Technological University campus, where she addressed the students and also received a doctorate degree.

ALSO READ: Sunita Williams Likely To Wait Months In Space As NASA Plans To Extend Starliner Mission

5. In her unique gesture towards her Indian heritage, Sunita, who's affectionately called 'Suni', carried a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a packet of samosas and a figure of Lord Ganesha to the International Space Station.

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