Sunita Williams describes experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets daily on the International Space Station

Astronaut Sunita Williams is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where she experiences 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. This occurs because the ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes, allowing astronauts to see a new sunrise or sunset approximately every 45 minutes. Unlike on Earth, where days are about 12 hours of light and dark, astronauts have a cycle of 45 minutes of daylight followed by 45 minutes of darkness. They use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to manage their schedules, which are divided into strict five-minute intervals for various activities. Williams has been on the ISS since June 2024 and is set to return to Earth in February 2025 due to a delay with her original spacecraft. She will return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.