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Sunita Williams
Age: 43
Astronaut since: 1998
Space time: Six months on the space station in 2006-2007, including more than 29 hours of space walks
With her 195 days in space, Suni Williams broke Shannon Lucid's previous endurance record-until Peggy Whitson broke both women's records this year. Williams, a naval aviator and test pilot who grew up in the Boston area, also "ran" the Boston Marathon from the station treadmill, with an unofficial time of 4 hours and 24 minutes (during which the International Space Station orbited the earth about three times).
On being a rookie: "Yes, it's unusual to stay in space for six months on a first flight. And yes, it's a little shift that you're going to be locked in a can with a couple of guys. But I embraced the idea. I mean, I prepared for almost eight years! All the training was definitely beneficial for living up there. And with my Navy background, I'd gone on deployments before, so I wasn't worried about leaving home for six months. The cosmonauts were very professional, and we all had mutual respect and understanding."
Flying versus walking: "I learned after about a week how to fly gracefully without going too fast or jerking around. I had a hard time remembering how to walk. I prefer flying!"
Daily exercise: "The treadmill harness is a little uncomfortable and takes some getting used to. I really like running outside and having the wind blow on you, even if it's hot and humid like in Houston. But I got into a routine. If you're healthy, your body can adapt to anything."
Her haircut: "Long hair can be troublesome in space. It sticks to everything, and I didn't want to have my hair floating all around the space station. So I decided to cut it as we were preparing to dock.
"I've had some friends who've had cancer and had to go through chemo. I know how traumatic that is, so I thought the least I could do was donate my hair. A friend's 12-year-old daughter had given her own hair to Locks of Love. So I put my hair in a plastic bag, sent it home on the space shuttle, and asked that someone give it to her. She donated it for me."
Tranquil view: "When you have that perspective of being far away and looking back at the planet, you don't see the hustle and bustle or the borders. You see a very peaceful place. Gandhi tried to instill the feeling of oneness in all of us. Seeing our planet from space, you understand that."
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