|
|
Sunita Williams
|
Photo: NASA
|
Sunita L.
Williams is an American Astronaut and a Captain in the US Navy. She was born on
September 19, 1965 in Euclid, Ohio, but considers Needham, Massachusetts to be
her hometown.
Williams attended Needham High School, Needham, Massachusetts graduating in 1983. She received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science from the US Naval Academy in 1987. Williams also holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management that she received from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1995. Williams received her commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy from the United States Naval Academy in May 1987. She completed a six-month assignment at the Naval Coastal System Command. After receiving her designation as a Basic Diving Officer, Suni Williams reported to Naval Aviation Training Command. She became a Naval Aviator in July 1989 and reported to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 3 for initial H46, Seaknight, training. |
After completing this particular
training, she was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 in Norfolk,
Virginia completing overseas deployments to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and the
Persian Gulf in support of Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort.
Supporting Hurricane Andrew Relief Operations onboard USS Sylvania, Williams
was the Officer-in-Charge of an H-46 detachment sent to Miami in 1992. In
January 1993, Williams began training at the United States Naval Test Pilot
School graduating in December 1993 and entering the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test
Directorate as an H-46 Project Officer, and V-22 Chase Pilot in the T-2. She
flew numerous aircraft as part of test flight efforts. In 1995, she returned to
Naval Test Pilot School as an Instructor. Williams was deployed onboard USS
Saipan when she was selected for the astronaut program. She has logged more
than 3000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft.
Williams was selected by NASA in 1998 and completed two years of basic space flight training and evaluations. During training, she completed orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. When training was complete, Williams entered the astronauts office working with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the International Space Station, also supporting the first Space Station Crew of Expedition 1. Later, Williams worked within the Robotics branch on the ISS Robotic Arm and the follow on Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator. She also served as a crew member of NEEMO2 living underwater in the Aquarius habitat for 9 days.
Suni Williams completed her first space flight as ISS Expedition 14 and 15 Flight Engineer launching aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on Mission STS-116 from the Kennedy Space Center in December 9, 2006. Expeditions 14 and 15 were to ISS Assembly and Maintenance as well as Space Station Science Operations. Williams completed a total of four Spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes dedicated to outfitting of the Station’s exterior. Williams concluded her flight returning to Earth with the STS-117 crew to land at Edwards Air Force Base on June 22, 2007. She spent a total of 195 in space flight.
After the mission, Williams served as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. She trained as back-up crew member of Expedition 30 and was assigned for her next long-duration space flight as Flight Engineer on Expedition 32 and Commander of Expedition 33 launching to ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-05M. The flight takes place in 2012.
Williams was selected by NASA in 1998 and completed two years of basic space flight training and evaluations. During training, she completed orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques. When training was complete, Williams entered the astronauts office working with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the International Space Station, also supporting the first Space Station Crew of Expedition 1. Later, Williams worked within the Robotics branch on the ISS Robotic Arm and the follow on Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator. She also served as a crew member of NEEMO2 living underwater in the Aquarius habitat for 9 days.
Suni Williams completed her first space flight as ISS Expedition 14 and 15 Flight Engineer launching aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on Mission STS-116 from the Kennedy Space Center in December 9, 2006. Expeditions 14 and 15 were to ISS Assembly and Maintenance as well as Space Station Science Operations. Williams completed a total of four Spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes dedicated to outfitting of the Station’s exterior. Williams concluded her flight returning to Earth with the STS-117 crew to land at Edwards Air Force Base on June 22, 2007. She spent a total of 195 in space flight.
After the mission, Williams served as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. She trained as back-up crew member of Expedition 30 and was assigned for her next long-duration space flight as Flight Engineer on Expedition 32 and Commander of Expedition 33 launching to ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-05M. The flight takes place in 2012.
 |
