A video circulating online claims to show Indian-origin American astronaut Sunita Williams recording her activities at the space station, stating she is returning after 127 days. However, this claim is false. The video is actually from November 2012 and is unrelated to her current mission. Sunita Williams, along with astronaut Wilmore, has been on the ISS since mid-June following technical issues with their Boeing Starliner. They are expected to remain on the station until February 2025.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) @DrMaheshGothwal wrote. “After successful 127 days of Space Tour, “Ms Sunita Williams” returning safely to Earth. This is Absolutely mind-blowing video. Must Watch.”
Several other users and influencers have also shared the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @DhanalakshmiOff, @ulayi60
The truth about the viral video, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the claims and found that the video was old and Sunita Willams will remain in space until February 2025.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a relevant keyword search and found a report regarding Sunita Williams and Wilmore. According to the report, Sunita Williams and Wilmore had been stranded on the ISS in mid-June after their Boeing Starliner experienced technical issues and they will remain there till February 2025.
We also found the video of Sunita Williams on NASA’s official YouTube channel uploaded in November 2012. The description reads, Sunita Williams In her final days as Commander of the International Space Station, Sunita Williams of NASA recorded an extensive tour of the orbital laboratory and downlinked the video on Nov. 18, just hours before she, cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency departed in their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft for a landing on the steppe of Kazakhstan.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the video of Astronaut Sunita was not recent. But an old video from 2012 and unrelated to her recent space journey. Also, the reports about her return to Earth are not true.
Intent
Social media users and influencers are circulating videos of Astronaut Williams with misleading claims to get the spotlight on social media.
Conclusion
Claim– The viral video of astronaut Williams is recent and she is about to return to Earth shortly.
Fact– The video of Sunita Williams is not recent. But an old video from 2012 and she will remain in space until February 2025.
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