A Distant Vision of Time and Beauty - Sunita William's Space Mission

For someone like Sunita Williams, who operated in space for more than 195 days in two missions, a pass of suns and twilights was more than a show for her. It helped her think about how she perceives time, about time, our planet and the cosmos as a whole.

During one of her interviews, Sunita described how the pace of the journey transformed her understanding of time. “On the planet everyone has a day light and then an evening which happens only once every 24 hours. But there, every 90 seconds, you can see how the sun appears and disappears in some weird horizon. It is hard to put in words. It is like you are in amazement all the time.” Each day and night was something new, a new sight, new feelings and another reason to value the land. The sunset stretched for в се berthed enormous tints of gold and orange and pink onto the air and even the best earthly artist would be unable to paint such a picture! Since the ISS orbits around the Earth almost sixteen times a day, for Sunita it was possible to perceive distinctive views for what many people will not have an opportunity.

The Impact of the View from Her Position on Earth

For Sunita, it was not only the beauty of the sight that remained in her mind. It was the suns and evenings that had a lasting effect on her sense of what she lovingly called ‘the delicate layer of our world’, its intricacies, and most importantly the role responsible citizens play in retrospective. She comments: 'Looking out at the Earth from space is one such moment that is surreal because there is only one thin layer of the atmosphere, and everything appears so serene and precious. My feelings have changed because of those suns and nights; they have given me a wider outlook.' This particularly reaffirmed her belief in how space travel could assist in promoting environmental security in the long run. She further added what the suns and nights were for her — and this time they were about connections: a connection with the memories of her favorite bones and a comforting ‘structural’ connection to home.

A Distinct Connection - Sunita's Reflection 

In some of her particular journals and during interviews, Sunita narrated, “each day and evening came a moment to reflect upon myself once again. Out there, surrounded by the enormity of space, it is easy to be insignificant, but those suns and evenings adorned me Cominar a greater Eiselt which is eternally. It is a humbling experience to have.” She tended to mention the instant the sun would withdraw underneath the surface of the earth leaving the gloomy blue. This view made people understand that life on the earth moves on and remains constant for the people with a new depiction of an endless infinity out there. “Amongst the cosmos, the realization of our self-worth as human beings and the responsibility of our oneness is nurtured. To view the earth from over there in actuality was a religious exercise.” For you the collection, it might be difficult to regard one individual witness 16 different suns and evenings within the narrower confines of a single day. But to Sunita Williams and to many who have been there, those were so beautiful moments indeed, but much more than mere passing moments.

They served as a remembrance of our place in the order of creation and of the extraordinary journey that all of us make on this planet. 

Concluding the Education, The Last Enduring Impact of Space Exploration

When Sunita Williams came back to Earth after her missions, she not only returned with memories of the amazing successes in space but also with an appreciation of the earth and its inhabitants. Every dawn and dusk she witnessed, while looking at earth from space, solidified the conviction that this planet is a treasure that should be protected and loved. Through her vision, we too, turn to more reasonably apprehend the great appeal and delicacy of our homeland. And although a route may never be one for each of us, there is comfort in the way we saw Sunita Williams standing for the view above and thus facilitating one to make the most of every single day in the world that follows.