Meet Sunita Williams' Husband Micheal: Astronaut's Steady Pillar Behind Her Space Legacy

Last Updated:March 19, 2025, 16:17 IST

Throughout her challenging mission, Sunita Williams leaned heavily on the unwavering support of her husband, Michael J Williams.

Sunita Williams returned to Earth after 9 months on the ISS. (PTI Photo)

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on Wednesday morning after spending more than nine months aboard the Space Station (ISS). The pair had initially arrived at the ISS in June 2024 on what was supposed to be a short test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, according to a report by Hindustan Times, unexpected propulsion issues with the Starliner forced the spacecraft to return unmanned, leaving the astronauts stranded in orbit for months. Now, they made their long-awaited journey home aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which reportedly undocked from the ISS at 10:35 am IST on Tuesday and splashed down off the coast of Florida at around 3:27 am IST on Wednesday.

Throughout her challenging mission, Williams leaned heavily on the unwavering support of her husband, Michael J Williams. A former officer in the US Navy and now a federal marshal in Texas, Michael has stood by Sunita through every mission, offering both emotional strength and steadfast encouragement. The couple, married for over 20 years, shares a deep bond forged by mutual understanding and shared backgrounds in aviation. Both were helicopter pilots before pursuing their respective careers.

Michael has been a constant source of motivation for Sunita. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal in August 2024, he described space as his wife’s “happy place". He has supported her unconditionally, even when her missions kept her away from home for months. Sunita, too, has spoken fondly of Michael’s encouragement, crediting him for helping her stay focused and positive during her extended missions.

According to Hindustan Times, Sunita’s father, Deepak Pandya, also played a key role in shaping her journey. Originally from Jhulasan, Gujarat, Pandya moved to the United States in the 1950s, where he built a distinguished career in medicine. After completing his Intermediate Science (IS) in 1953 at Gujarat University, Pandya earned his MD in 1957 before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, to complete his medical training. He later joined the Department of Anatomy at Case Western Reserve University as a postdoctoral fellow and went on to work at various hospitals and research centres across the country.

Pandya met Slovenian-American Ursuline Bonnie Zalokar when he arrived in the US, and the two married shortly after. Last month, Zalokar spoke publicly about Sunita’s extended mission, saying her daughter and fellow astronauts felt privileged to take part in such a long assignment. “It’s what they do. They like doing this and they are honoured to be able to go up on a long mission like this and, you know, they feel great about it," Zalokar reportedly said in an interview with News Nation. “She’s doing what she loves. So how could I feel sad about it or anything? I’m happy for her," she added.

Sunita and Michael’s relationship is not just defined by their marriage but also by a strong friendship. Michael’s understanding of Sunita’s professional commitments has helped their relationship thrive despite the challenges of long separations. His steady presence has provided Sunita with the confidence to face the rigours of space travel, knowing that she has unwavering support waiting for her back on Earth.

News world Meet Sunita Williams' Husband Micheal: Astronaut's Steady Pillar Behind Her Space Legacy