Veteran astronaut logged 608 days in space, led multiple ISS missions and set historic spacewalk records during her distinguished NASA career
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired after 27 years of distinguished service, effective December 27, 2025.
Over a remarkable career spanning three missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Williams set numerous human spaceflight records, including logging 608 days in space, the second-highest cumulative time by a NASA astronaut.
“Suni Williams has been a trailblazer in human spaceflight, shaping the future of exploration through her leadership aboard the space station and paving the way for commercial missions to low Earth orbit,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Her work advancing science and technology has laid the foundation for Artemis missions to the Moon and future journeys to Mars. Her extraordinary achievements will continue to inspire generations to dream big and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, and thank you for your service to NASA and our nation,” NASA said in a statement.
Williams’ 608 days in space place her second on NASA’s all-time list for cumulative spaceflight duration. She also ranks sixth among Americans for longest single spaceflight, tied with astronaut Butch Wilmore, with both logging 286 days during NASA’s Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew-9 missions.
She completed nine spacewalks, totalling 62 hours and 6 minutes, ranking first among women and fourth overall for cumulative spacewalk time. Williams was also the first person to run a marathon in space.
“Over the course of Suni’s impressive career, she has been a pioneering leader,” said Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “From her lasting contributions to the space station to her groundbreaking role during the Boeing Starliner test flight, her dedication to the mission will inspire future generations of explorers.”
Williams first launched aboard space shuttle Discovery on STS-116 in December 2006 and returned with the STS-117 crew aboard Atlantis. She served as a flight engineer for Expeditions 14 and 15, completing a then-record four spacewalks during the mission.
In 2012, she launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 127-day mission as part of Expeditions 32 and 33, later serving as commander of Expedition 33. During the mission, she conducted three spacewalks to repair a radiator leak and replace a power system component on the ISS.
Most recently, Williams and Wilmore launched aboard the Starliner spacecraft in June 2024 for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test mission. They later joined Expeditions 71 and 72, with Williams again serving as space station commander. She completed two spacewalks during the mission and returned to Earth in March 2025 as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
“Suni is incredibly sharp and an all-around great friend and colleague,” said Scott Tingle, Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson. “She’s inspired so many people, including fellow astronauts. We’re going to miss her greatly and wish her the very best.”
Beyond spaceflight, Williams held several leadership roles at NASA. In 2002, she served as a crew member on NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environments Mission Operations), spending nine days living and working in an underwater habitat. After her first mission, she served as deputy chief of the Astronaut Office and later as Director of Operations in Star City, Russia.
Most recently, she helped establish a helicopter training platform to prepare astronauts for future Moon landings, the statement said.
A native of Needham, Massachusetts, Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in physical science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology. A retired U.S. Navy captain, she is an accomplished helicopter and fixed-wing pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.
“Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favourite place to be,” Williams said.
“It’s been an incredible honor to serve in the Astronaut Office and fly in space three times. I had an amazing 27-year career at NASA, made possible by the tremendous support of my colleagues. The International Space Station — its people, engineering and science — is truly awe-inspiring and has paved the way for future exploration to the Moon and Mars. I’m excited to watch NASA and its partners make history in the years ahead,” she added. (Agencies)
