Click to play videoNew Delhi: Sunita Williams, the second woman of Indian origin to fly into space, leaves on a 6-month long Expedition 14 on Thursday. It is a NASA mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
"Many of us, five of us to be exact, will be experiencing our first launch. I think we are all just excited to be here," says Mission Specialist, Joan Higginbotham.
It's the most inexperienced crew in eight years when it comes to spaceflight experience. But these five astronauts of Expedition 14 have a major task ahead. They will deliver and attach another segment of the International Space Station and will exchange one member from their team for a member belonging to Expedition 13.
Williams will replace a German astronaut of Expedition 13. Williams is the second female astronaut of Indian origin to fly into space.
"I am half Indian and have got a—I am sure—group of Indian people who are looking forward to seeing this second person of Indian origin flying up in space. So, it is nice to know that everybody brings along with them a group of people from all over the world to get interested in space," says Williams, an ISS astronaut.
Williams will make a one way trip aboard Discovery, as she's likely to stay at the space station for at least the next six months. She will be part of a three-member crew at the space lab.The mission is due to last 12 days.
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