West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called for astronaut Sunita Williams to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of the extraordinary challenges she endured during her nearly nine-month stay in space.

Speaking at the West Bengal Assembly, Banerjee lauded Williams’ resilience and congratulated the rescue team for their efforts in safely bringing the astronaut back to Earth.

“The West Bengal Assembly extends its gratitude to the team that rescued Williams and another astronaut stranded in space for months. I congratulate them and Sunita Williams. I believe she deserves the Bharat Ratna,” Banerjee told the House. The Chief Minister also expressed her personal concern over the situation, revealing her keen interest in space science. “I’ve been following the developments closely through various sources. I monitored the situation daily and took regular updates,” she added.

Williams, a NASA astronaut of Indian descent, and her colleague Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on Tuesday after an extended mission at the International Space Station. Initially scheduled for an eight-day trip, their stay stretched to nine months due to a technical glitch in their spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner. Banerjee’s proposal underscores Williams’ inspiring journey and her contribution to space exploration, sparking discussions on honoring her remarkable achievement.