NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is currently on a visit to India. On Tuesday, she met the 90-year-old mother of late astronaut Kalpana Chawla in Delhi, where the two shared memories and reflected on the legacy of India’s first woman in space.

Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-born American astronaut, was among the seven crew members who lost their lives in February 2003 when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, just before landing.

Sunita Williams also shares strong personal ties with India. Her father hails from Gujarat, and she has often spoken about her emotional connection to the country. On Tuesday, the 60-year-old astronaut participated in an interactive session titled “Eyes on the Stars, Feet on the Ground” at the American Center in Delhi, where she described her visit as a homecoming.

Speaking during the event, Williams said her father played a significant role in introducing her to Indian culture. She added that she follows Indian traditions and has faith in Lord Ganesha, which keeps her connected to her roots.

Commenting on India’s space ambitions, Williams expressed optimism about the country’s Chandrayaan mission and praised the growing cooperation between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NASA. She said she hopes India will achieve several major milestones in space exploration in the near future.

When asked whether she would like to travel to the Moon, Williams responded humorously, saying she would love to go but joked that her husband would “kill her” if she did. She added that at this stage of her life, she prefers spending time with her family and taking care of her mother.