Sunita Williams Hands Over Space Station Command | Aakhir Tak

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Sunita Williams hands over ISS command to Alexey Ovchinin.
• She prepares for return to Earth with fellow crewmates.
• Her departure depends on the arrival of SpaceX Crew-10.
• Williams expressed gratitude to those supporting her mission.
• NASA and Roscosmos continue collaborative space exploration.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams officially handed over command of the International Space Station (ISS) to Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin. This change of command marks a pivotal moment in the station’s operations, highlighting the shift in leadership between the two space agencies. Williams is now preparing for her return to Earth, alongside fellow astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore from Nasa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Change of Command Ceremony

During the ceremony, Williams expressed her gratitude to all involved in supporting her mission, including control centers, friends, family, trainers, and everyone who contributed to her spaceflight preparation. Her leadership has been instrumental in maintaining the station’s operations during her tenure. Sunita Williams’s contributions to space are memorable.

Preparing for Return

Williams and her crewmates’ departure is contingent upon the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, scheduled to launch on March 12 and 13. Once Crew-10 arrives, a week-long handover process will take place before Williams and her crewmates depart on March 19.

Crew-10 Members

Crew-10 includes Nasa astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. They will become the new Expedition 72 crew members upon entering the ISS. These members will continue research and operational activities on the space station.

Ovchinin’s Term

Meanwhile, Ovchinin will continue his stay in space until mid-April, working alongside Flight Engineers Don Pettit of Nasa and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos. This transition highlights the collaborative nature of international space exploration, with Nasa and Roscosmos working together to ensure seamless operations on the ISS.

Boeing Starliner Technical Issue

As Williams prepares to return after an extended stay due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner, her leadership has been crucial in maintaining the station’s research and operational activities.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• Sunita Williams handed over ISS command to Russian Cosmonaut.
• Williams and crew prepare for their return to Earth.
• Departure depends on arrival of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission.
• NASA and Roscosmos are collaborating at the ISS.
• Williams’ leadership helped maintain station operations.

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