Needham High School graduate, Sunita WIlliams, begins six month mission as NASA astronaut aboard international space station

Needham High School graduate, Sunita Williams, has boldly gone where no Needhamite has gone before…..into space!! 

Williams, 41, an engineer is spending six months as a NASA astronaut aboard the international space station. Williams duties in space include rewiring the power supply for the space station. The astronauts will also praticipate in a fitness and nutritional study

William’s former sixth grade teacher, Angie DiNapoli, was invited by Williams to attend the launch at Cape Canaveral, FL on December 9th.  DiNapoli described the moment as “patriotic and emotional” when she saw her former student blast off into space.

Williams has been sending regular email updates from space to DiNapoli’s fifth grade class at the Newman Elemenatry School in Needham, MA. Prior to the launch, Williams sent the students updates about her training for the mission.  She also had a teleconference with the Newman students in November. DiNapoli’s class sent Williams a special package for the holidays. “The kids wrote good luck cards for her, made poems about space and made video clips of them on CD telling her what they know about space,” said DiNapoli. 

Williams wanted a memento from her hometown of Needham, MA on board with her when the shuttle Discovery took off. Town officials quickly mailed the item she requested ….a flag bearing Needham’s town seal. 

Perhaps it is destiny that a Needhamite is travelling in space. After all, the Needham Rockets is the name of many of the towns sports teams. “She’s riding the school mascot, if you will, up to space,” said School Superintendent Daniel Gutenkast.

 Elyse Marsh 

 Office: 781-237-5000

 Cell: 617-803-3571

 email: emarsh@prphomes.com

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