A Call from the Cosmos

December 5, 2024
• Hometown astronaut Sunita Williams fielded local students’ questions from the International Space Station Wednesday morning.

Above the Earth’s surface, pilot Suni Williams floated in zero gravity, holding a microphone and a Wildcat plushie. Some 250 miles below her, a gym full of “Wildcats” — AKA students of Sunita Williams Elementary School — gathered to cheer on the astronaut and ask her questions about her time in space.

Through the miracle of technology, Williams connected to the school through a live video feed Wednesday for about 30 minutes. Williams flipped upside down, showed off dehydrated food packets and offered brief science lessons while onboard the ISS.

Of the 534 students present, several third, fourth and fifth graders asked the astronaut about her journey among the cosmos and her out-of-this-world encounters.

One such recurring phenomena are sunrises and sunsets from space, which happen 16 times in the span of 24 hours on the ISS. They are brilliant, Williams said, both metaphorically and literally.

“The sunrise and sunsets are very, very bright. Also, it’s a little dangerous to be looking right at the sun, so we have sunglasses in the cupola just in case as well,” Williams said. “They’re spectacular, and we can see that curvature of the earth. It’s just absolutely beautiful.”

Williams has also caught “some amazing solar activity,” including auroras — the green and sometimes red streaks of light typically seen near the North and South Poles.

“We’ve actually flown through curtains of this,” she said of the effect. “It’s like dancing and moving all around us.”

Williams and captain Butch Wilmore traveled to space together in June, when their spacecraft malfunctioned and their eight-day trip, consequently, extended by several months. The pair are now expected to touch down in February.

Last month, more than 300 Needhamites and admirers took to Memorial Field for a community photo in an effort to show support and solidarity for Williams.

During Wednesday’s call, SWES Principal Kiana Brunson congratulated Williams on her 500th day in space — a milestone she reached last week — and called it “an incredible accomplishment.” Williams also celebrated her 59th birthday in September.

“We are so proud and honored by the work and the dedication you’ve shown,” Brunson said. “You are definitely our hometown she-ro.”

Williams previously spoke with SWES students in June, five days into her expedition.

Besides stratospheres, Williams and the school are also separated by time zones. Williams and other ISS astronauts observe Greenwich Mean Time, or London time, which is five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

When asked what time she goes to sleep, Williams told students she listens to her body — after wrapping up work around 7 p.m., she typically eats dinner and goes to bed. The lights around the space station help Williams and the crew “stay oriented” with themselves and the ISS, as well as help them keep somewhat of a circadian rhythm, she said.

Williams also warned Bostonians to brace for snow. A couple weeks ago, when the ISS flew over the Himalayas, Williams spotted snow on just the tops of the mountains, but “now that whole area is just blanketed in snow,” she said. Those changes, particularly in the New England and Canadian region, are perceptible but happen very quickly, Williams said.

“So, are you guys all ready for winter? I hope so,” she said. “It’s coming.”

Her diet onboard the ISS often includes fresh fruit and Indian food, which she heats up and hydrates to eat. Williams showed off a spicy Caribbean chicken in a tightly sealed container, but reiterated that “it tastes really, really good.”

Williams also demonstrated how liquids, when in zero gravity, form into weightless spheres. She squeezed out some of her pineapple juice before drinking it out of the air, which was a big hit with the students tuning in.

“I fear that if elementary school was in space, there’d be a lot of playing with food and a lot of mess,” Williams said in response, “but that would make it a lot of fun also.”

While she does spend time “trying to perfect my gymnastics,” Williams said there’s still work to do. During the Q&A, Wilmore floated through as he prepared to send some of the crew’s science experiments back to earth. Every day is an opportunity to learn and experience something new, she said.

And a call down to her hometown would have been remiss without mention of high school sports, specifically the undefeated Needham High School football team.

“I heard the Needham Rockets are playing for the state championship,” she said, “so go Rockets in the meantime, too.”

Brunson closed out the event with well wishes.

“We are so proud of you. We are missing you and can’t wait till you come back to Earth and join some of our little Wildcats here at Sunita Williams Elementary in Needham,” Brunson said. “We wish you safe travels, Godspeed and keep doing the great work that you’re doing.”