NASA astronaut Sunita Williams’ return to earth at the conclusion of the scientific mission to the space station was more than a homecoming. It was a historic triumph of perseverance, proving that determination and courage transform adversity into achievement, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said on Wednesday.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth after an incredible 286 days in space, but they're not alone in achieving long-duration missions. From Valery Polyakov's unmatched 438-day record to Oleg Kononenko's staggering 1,