NASA astronaut Sunita Williams recently returned to Earth after an extended mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially intended as a short-duration test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, technical issues led to an unplanned stay of approximately nine months.
Now, a video showing Sunita Williams addressing a press conference and discussing India and her Indian heritage is being shared with the false claim that it is a recent clip from after her return to Earth on March 18, 2025. In reality, the video is from April 2013, when she spoke to the media at the National Science Centre in Delhi during her visit to India.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter), @Ritik_Sanatani wrote, “Sunita Williams honored Indian culture in space, took a Ganesha murti with her to the ISS, fearlessly embraced her Indian roots, and openly acknowledged India’s rich heritage.” Later, he deleted the post.
Propaganda account @HPhobiaWatch wrote, “Sunita Williams credits Bhagwad Gita & Upanishads for her safe return. She stayed in space for 9 months”
Sunita Williams credits Bhagwad Gita & Upanishads for her safe return. She stayed in space for 9 monthshttps://t.co/h8koThjkMi
— Hindutva Knight (@HPhobiaWatch) March 21, 2025
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also disseminated the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @kaajukatla, @JaipurDialogues, @TheRealDharm, @Lordof5Gauda, @ocjain4, @Navaladi678, @Tamils_UK, @TheFactshala, @rahulhinnd, @Bulldozer4Jstis,
The truth about the viral video of Sunita Williams, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video. We found that the video was not recent but from 2013 when Sunita Williams visited India.
To verify the claims made by the users and Influencers. Upon closer observation of the video, we noticed a caption in the video that reads, Sunita Williams in Delhi. Furthermore, taking cue from it, we performed relevant keyword searches and found media reports (1, 2) regarding Sunita Williams’s visit to India in 2013. During research, we found the same video on the YouTube channel of NDTV, uploaded in April 2013.
According to the reports, the video is from April 2013, when she spoke to the media at the National Science Centre in Delhi during her visit to India. Currently, she is in Houston, Texas, undergoing a 45-day rehabilitation program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the video was not recent but old, from 2013.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) March 22, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing NASA astronaut Sunita Williams addressing a press conference and discussing India and her Indian heritage is being shared with the false claim that it is a recent clip from after her return to Earth on March 18, 2025. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/q9yAKGt5ob
Intent
Influencers are circulating old videos of astronaut Sunita Williams with misleading claims to get the spotlight on social media.
Conclusion
Claim: The video shows Sunita Williams holding a press conference, where she talks about India and her Indian heritage following her return from space.
Fact: The video was from her visit to India in 2013, nothing to do with recent events.
Related Article: Fact Check: Decades-old video of Astronaut Sunita Williams circulated with misleading claims – D-Intent Data
