NASA welcomes retired astronaut Sunita Williams back to the ground

After seven months of living and working aboard the International Space Station

Retired NASA astronaut Sunita Williams returned to Earth on Thursday after spending seven months on the International Space Station. Williams, the second female astronaut to command the space station, said it was an "incredible experience" to live and work in space and to see the Earth from orbit.

"It's a beautiful planet, and it's our home, and we need to take care of it," she said.

Williams was part of the Expedition 51 and 52 crews, and she conducted three spacewalks during her mission. She has now spent a total of 322 days in space, making her the second-most experienced female astronaut in history.

Williams was welcomed back to Earth by her NASA colleagues and her family. She said she is looking forward to spending time with her family and friends and to sharing her experiences with others.

"I'm thrilled to be back on Earth," she said. "I've missed my family and friends, and I'm looking forward to catching up with them and sharing my stories from space."

Williams' return to Earth marks the end of an era for NASA. She was the last of the original astronauts to retire from the space agency's astronaut corps. With her retirement, NASA now has only 10 active astronauts.

NASA is currently working to recruit and train a new generation of astronauts. The space agency is looking for candidates who are highly motivated and have a strong academic background in science and engineering.

NASA is also looking for astronauts who are willing to take on the challenges of long-duration space travel. The space agency is planning to send astronauts to Mars by the 2030s, and it will need astronauts who are willing to spend months or even years in space.