Sunita Williams to return to Earth on June 19

Depending upon favourable weather conditions, Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams will return to Earth aboard the Atlantis shuttle and join her friends and family on June 19, after her six months stay in space, the longest period spent by a woman there.

This was revealed by NASA sources following certification of Flight Readiness by its senior managers on May 30 and 31 at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, where Atlantis got a green signal for launch on June 8.

Everyone on Earth, especially Williams' parents, Deepak Pandya, a renowned neuroanatomist and mother Bonnie Pandya, are eagerly awaiting her return.

"Although we have been in touch via polycom, video-conferencing device, and have seen her during this period, but it will be a joy to see her after so many months," Deepak Pandya told PTI.

Williams will be in rehab for at least 45 days, depending on her overall health condition, after which both her parents will join her in Houston, where she has been living since 1998 after being selected as astronaut by NASA.

Meanwhile, the countdown for the space shuttle Atlantis' STS-117 mission will start at 2100 hrs EDT on June 5, at the T-43 hour point. The countdown includes 27 hours, 32 minutes of built-in hold time leading to a preferred launch time at approximately 1938 hrs EDT on June 8. The launch window extends an additional five minutes.