Sunita Williams on Raj Shamani’s Podcast: 286 Days in Space, Life After NASA & What Changed Her Forever!

IFP SEASON 15

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NASA astronaut & US Navy Captain (Retired), Sunita “Suni” Williams is one of the most experienced space explorers in history.

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Over her career, she logged 608 days in space, making her one of NASA’s longest-serving astronauts.

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Her final mission saw her spend 286 days aboard the ISS , almost a full year in microgravity before returning to Earth in 2025.

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On the "Figuring Out" podcast, she spoke to Raj Shamani candidly abuout her experience, her childhood, her inspiration and much more!

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Thanks to modern video calls, she stayed emotionally close to family even continents apart, while orbiting Earth.

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Sunita opened up about the lasting health effects of prolonged microgravity, from balance issues to muscle adaptation.

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She shared what happens when you cry in space. Water moves strangely, and emotions don’t just “float away".

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Beyond science, the conversation touched on life’s big themes: exploration’s impact on perspective, loneliness, and belonging.

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