In 1984, India’s first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, looked down at Earth from space and described India using a famous line from a poem, saying, “Saare Jahaan Se Accha.” Decades later, another astronaut of Indian origin, Sunita Williams, was asked a similar question after returning from a long space mission.

On Monday, during a press conference, a journalist asked her what India looked like from space. Without hesitation, she replied, “India is amazing, just amazing.”

Williams shared her experience of seeing the majestic Himalayas from space. “Every time we went over the Himalayas, we got incredible pictures. It happened like a ripple and flows down into India,” she said.

Describing India’s landscape, she explained how the mountain range seems to extend into the country with many colors. She also mentioned how the view changes from the East to Gujarat and Mumbai, where the fishing boats near the coast serve as a beacon.

“At night, the lights of Indian cities are incredible to see, from the big cities to the smaller ones,” she added.

Plans to visit India?

When asked if she would like to visit India and support ISRO’s space program, Williams responded positively. “I hope we can meet up at some point and share our experiences with as many people in India as possible because it is a great country and another wonderful democracy,” she said.

Her crewmate, Butch Wilmore, who was sitting beside her, playfully asked if she would take her fellow astronauts along. Williams smiled and replied, “Absolutely.”

Returning to Earth after 286 days

Williams, along with astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth on March 18. After spending 286 days aboard the International Space Station, they safely landed in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule at 5:57 pm EDT.

Since their return, Williams and Wilmore have been undergoing physical therapy at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to help their bodies adjust to Earth’s gravity. During the press conference, both appeared to be in good health and spirits. Williams even shared that she had gone for a 3-mile run the day before.

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