NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Retires After 27 Years of Service

Washington DC, Jan 21: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has officially retired after an illustrious career spanning 27 years, with her retirement taking effect on December 27, 2025.

Williams, a trailblazer in human spaceflight, made significant contributions to the field during her three missions aboard the International Space Station. She holds the record for the second-most cumulative time spent in space by a NASA astronaut, totaling an impressive 608 days.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Williams for her leadership aboard the space station, noting her role in advancing science and technology that has paved the way for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Williams’ retirement marks the end of a remarkable career that has inspired generations to dream big and push the boundaries of space exploration.

During her time in space, Williams achieved several milestones, including completing nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes. She holds the record for the most spacewalk time by a woman and ranks fourth on the all-time cumulative spacewalk duration list. Williams also made history as the first person to run a marathon in space.

Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, commended Williams for her pioneering leadership and dedication to the mission. Williams’ impressive career trajectory includes serving as a flight engineer for Expeditions 14/15 and later as space station commander for Expedition 33.

Williams’ final mission saw her launch aboard the Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test mission. She completed two spacewalks during Expedition 71/72 and returned to Earth in March 2025, concluding her spaceflight career with NASA.

Reflecting on her career, Williams expressed gratitude for the support she received from her colleagues and the opportunities to fly in space three times. She highlighted the awe-inspiring nature of the International Space Station and its role in paving the way for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

Williams, a retired US Navy captain, holds a bachelor’s degree in physical science from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree in engineering management. She is an accomplished pilot with over 4,000 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.

In her own words, Williams shared her excitement for NASA’s future endeavors and expressed confidence in the agency’s ability to make history in the coming years.