Transmitted by:H.Wenkatesh Subramanian,
Asstt. Editor,
News Desk Information Broadcast Bureau;
Karnataka Information Centre.
News
By: Abraham Lincoln Sathi
Chief, Information Broadcasting, PNIB
Broadcast by:
News Bureau of Investigation
and Information Broadcasting,
Central News Bureau, New Delhi &
State Bureau of Uttar Pradesh.
Event on 13.March.2025
"10 Minutes of Silence: Sunita Williams' Fiery Return to Earth"
In a heart-stopping moment during her return to Earth, astronaut Sunita Williams and her crew faced a dramatic ordeal that left mission control and the world holding their breath. For ten agonizing minutes, all contact with the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule was lost as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere, enduring temperatures of over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius). The capsule, engulfed in flames due to the intense heat of re-entry, appeared to transform into a blazing fireball.
This blackout period, known as "communications blackout," occurs when the ionized gases surrounding the spacecraft during re-entry block radio signals. Despite the fiery spectacle and the eerie silence, the capsule emerged unscathed, deploying its parachutes and splashing down safely in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee.
Sunita Williams, along with her fellow astronauts, displayed remarkable composure throughout the ordeal. Their safe return marked the end of a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station, during which they conducted critical scientific research and maintenance tasks.
In an exclusive interview with PNIB News India, Williams reflected on the experience, saying, "Those ten minutes felt like an eternity, but we trusted the technology and the team on the ground. It’s a testament to human ingenuity and resilience."
The successful return of the Crew Dragon capsule underscores the advancements in space exploration and the bravery of astronauts like Sunita Williams, who continue to push the boundaries of human achievement.
Those 10 minutes when contact with Sunita Williams was lost, the capsule turned into a ball of fire, then she returned like this
Sunita Williams Returns: For about 10 minutes, NASA's mission control lost contact with the capsule. Know what happened next..
On the morning of March 19, 2025, while returning to Earth from the infinite depths of space, there came a moment when everyone's breath stopped. Famous Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, along with her partner Butch Wilmore and two other passengers, had set out to return home after a nine-month long space stay. SpaceX's Dragon capsule, which was bringing them from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth, reached a point in its 17-hour journey where everything became uncertain. These were those 10 minutes, when contact with the capsule was lost, and it turned into a fireball. But then, the power of science, technology and human resolve once again performed a miracle.
This return journey was an exciting and risky chapter in itself. As the capsule entered the Earth's atmosphere, its speed reached upto 28,000 kilometers per hour. Due to the friction of the atmosphere, the outer surface of the capsule began to heat up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. For those watching from outside, it was a glowing fireball, tearing through the sky and coming down. But inside, Sunita and her companions were safe, because the heat shield tiles of the capsule absorbed this intense heat.
Bob Andrews,
Editor in Chief,
Story By:
Abraham Lincoln Sathi
Bureau chief,
Information Broadcasting (IB)
PNIB News India
Uttar Pradesh, UK NCR, Delhi.
Associate News Editor;
Chief Minister, Information Dept.
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet & State Admin.
Uttar Pradesh