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Sunita Williams is an American astronaut, the current commander of the International Space Station, and a retired U.S. Navy officer. She is also one of the most experienced spacewalkers, having completed nine spacewalks with a total duration of 62 hours and 6 minutes.
According to multiple media reports, Sunita Williams falls under the GS-15 category, according to NASA records her annual salary is around Rs 1.26 crore. In addition to her salary, NASA astronaut receives various benefits, including health insurance, psychological support for herself and her family members, and travel allowances.
She is a highly respected astronaut and has made significant contributions to space exploration, which has got her worldwide recognition. According to Marca.com, her estimated net worth is approximately Rs 41.5 Crore.
Sunita Williams completed her education at Needham High School in 1983. She graduated with Bachelor of Science in physical science from the United States Naval Academy in 1987 and later in 1995 obtained a Master of Science in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Sunita Williams was selected for NASA’s Commercial Crew program in 2015 and was later selected for the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner in 2022. She launched aboard Starliner on June 5, 2024, with Barry Wilmore, initially for a one-week mission. However, due to thruster failures and helium leaks, NASA delayed the spacecraft’s return to ensure a safe reentry.
Sunita Williams has been stranded in space for eight months due to Boeing Starliner's technical issues and mission delays. NASA plans to launch Crew-10 on March 12, 2025, with her return expected by late March.
Elon Musk accused the former Biden administration of blocking SpaceX’s efforts to bring NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back from the ISS. Wilmore confirmed Musk’s claim as "absolutely factual" but said the astronauts had no details on the alleged offer. He also downplayed political interference, stating, "Politics is not playing into this at all."