Williams wants Indian Gennext to contribute to space experiments

“Any interaction in future programmes would provide opportunities for Indian astronauts. I am hoping there is another Kalpana Chawla in this audience. I am hoping one of you would like to represent your country and our planet in space but I believe that will probably be in the next space programme.”

Williams had been invited by National Council of Science Museums to address students at National Science Centre (New Delhi),Science City (Kolkata) and Nehru Science Centre (Mumbai) from April 1-4.

Justifying expense on space missions when there was poverty on earth,she said there were various spinoffs from space programmes that could have applications in fields such as medical.

“Designing something for space travel requires a lot of creativity. We have to preserve food for long durations in a spacecraft and that technology can be used to feed people in areas where it has to last long,particularly in emergency situations such as floods. All water gets regenerated in a space station. That technology can be used in places where you need clean drinking water.”

On the challenges she faced as a woman on a space mission,Williams said she never gave gender issue a thought.

“The spacecraft or space suit didn’t know whether I was a girl or boy. We put limitations on ourselves. You are the one who decides what you can do and what you are capable of. Choose something you like to do in your profession as that will make you competent and give you confidence,” she said.

Williams gave a thumbs-up to the idea of space tourism and wished “everyone could take a lap around the planet”.

‘I saw Mumbai from space Thursday’

“I got an opportunity to stay right at the harbour,how beautiful it is by Gateway of India. What a nice place you have here. I saw it actually from space this (Thursday) morning. You might say,how did I see it from space?” Williams,who was staying in a South Mumbai hotel,told a surprised audience. She said she got a view of Mumbai from space sitting on ground in a span of few minutes. Wednesday night,Williams got a call from a friend,Chris Hadfield,a Canadian astronaut,who is commander of the space station. “He asked exactly where I am in India and I said Mumbai. He sent me a picture of Mumbai that he took right after I went back to sleep. This is how quick the interaction is. I will make sure you get a copy of that,so that you can see what your city looks like from space at night,” she said.