Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has made history once again by becoming the commander of the International Space Station (ISS). Her journey to this pivotal role began with an eight-day mission that was unexpectedly extended to over eight months due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

During a formal ceremony aboard the ISS, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko handed over command to Williams, who has been working to advance scientific research and technology for future exploration missions. This marks the second time she has commanded the ISS, her previous stint occurring 12 years ago. As the commander, her primary responsibility will be to ensure the safety of all crew members aboard the space station.

At the handover event, Williams expressed her gratitude and shared insights from her extended mission, emphasizing the adaptability and camaraderie of the crew. Kononenko presented her with a symbolic golden key, a part of the Soyuz spacecraft's docking port, which Williams playfully swirled in the near-zero gravity of the ISS.

With a total of 431 days spent in space, Williams is anticipated to return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon in February. Earlier this month, she described the ISS as her "happy place" and noted that the transition to life in space has been smooth due to her extensive experience, marking this as her third mission.

The ISS, a marvel of engineering, has been continuously inhabited for 25 years and is often likened to a mini-city in space. Weighing 419 tonnes and costing over $150 billion, it spans about the length of a football field and offers astronauts 16 sunrises each day.

Born to Dr. Deepak Pandya and Bonnie Pandya, the 59-year-old Williams is not only a trained Navy pilot but also a passionate marathon runner, having completed a marathon while in space. Known for her love of Indian cuisine, she has planned to enjoy fish curry during her current space mission.