NASA picks an Indian Sunita for space mission

After a recent setback which NASA received by losing the space shuttle Columbia and losing all the people on board including Indian born Kalpana Chawla. One again NASA has appointed Sunita Lyn Williams, a graduate of US Naval academy as backup crew for the International space station expedition 10.

Sunita's appointment with NASA brings pride to India. She has been selected in the astronaut class of 1998 and would be a first time flier. Unlike two other colleagues selected along with her, Sunita has been a helicopter pilot, a test pilot and test pilot instructor.

Sunita, married to Michael Williams, was born in Euclid, Ohio, to Deepak and Ursaline Pandya, who live in Falmouth, Massachusetts.