On November 1, 2024, NASA marked Diwali with a heartfelt message on their official X account, accompanied by a breathtaking image from the Hubble Space Telescope, depicting a vibrant star formation in the Omega Nebula (M17). The post conveyed warm wishes for the festival, paralleling the illumination of homes during Diwali with the wonders of the cosmos.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), also shared her Diwali greetings in a special video message. Williams, who has been in orbit since June 6, 2023, reflected on the unique experience of celebrating the festival 260 miles above Earth, expressing her gratitude to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their recognition of the Indian-American community during White House celebrations.
Williams emphasized the festival's hopeful message, stating, 'Diwali is a celebration of joy, as goodness prevails.' Her crew's mission duration has been extended, with plans to remain in orbit until February 2025 due to safety concerns regarding an early return.
The Diwali spirit extended beyond NASA, as tech leaders joined in the celebrations. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, described Diwali as one of his favorite times of the year, while Apple CEO Tim Cook shared a photograph celebrating the festival's themes of light and unity.