Video claiming astronaut Sunita Williams is coming back to Earth goes viral. Is she actually coming back?

"After successful 127 days of Space Tour, "Ms Sunita Williams" returning safely to Earth. This is Absolutely Mind Blowing video. Must Watch," read an X video post on October 15. However, Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams will not be able to reach Earth anytime soon.  | (Pic: NASA)

The NASA astronauts Williams and Butch Wilmore were launched into space on June 5, 2024, as part of the first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. | (Pic: NASA)

Since then, the duo have been stuck at the International Space Station due to thruster failure and helium leaks in the new capsule. | (Pic: NASA)

In August, NASA planned the astronauts' return to Earth in February 2025 in the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. | (Pic: NASA)

As the social media was filled with an old video allegedly from 2021 about the return of Wiliams to Earth, reports later revealed that visuals could be traced back to at least 2012 and showed Williams, the then Commander of the International Space Station, giving a tour of the orbital laboratory. | (Pic: Twitter)

It may be recalled that on June 10, Williams discussed living and working in space as part of the Crewed Flight Test (CFT) of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft during an in-flight interview with students of Sunita L Williams Elementary School in Needham, Massachusetts. | (Pic: NASA)

Its goal was to test the Starliner's capabilities for commercial space travel and prepare for regular missions. | (Pic: NASA)

This mission and its setbacks remind one that space travel is not foolproof yet and untoward incidents have the potential to derail deadlines. All said and done, the resilience of the astronauts and their professionalism deserve a hat-tip. | (Pic: NASA)