Sunita Williams Retires After 27 Years, 608 Days in Space, and 3 Missions
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has officially retired after a remarkable 27-year career with the US space agency. NASA announced on Wednesday that Williams’ retirement took effect at the end of December 2025, marking the end of a long and highly decorated journey in human spaceflight.
Williams, now 60 years old, has completed three missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and set multiple records during her career. She is widely respected for her achievements and her contribution to the growth of space exploration.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Williams, calling her “a trailblazer in human spaceflight,” and highlighted her role in shaping the future of space missions. He added that her leadership aboard the space station played a crucial role in the development of commercial missions to low Earth orbit.
“Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, and thank you for your service to NASA and our nation,” he said.
Williams logged 608 days in space, which is the second-highest cumulative time recorded by a NASA astronaut. She also ranks sixth among Americans for the longest single spaceflight, sharing the position with astronaut Butch Wilmore, with both spending 286 days in orbit.
Her achievements include nine spacewalks, totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes, making her the woman with the most spacewalking time according to NASA. She also became the first person to run a marathon in space, showcasing her dedication to fitness and endurance even while in orbit.
From Space Shuttles to Starliner
Williams’ journey began in 2006 when she flew to space aboard the space shuttle Discovery. She later returned on Atlantis and served as a flight engineer on Expeditions 14 and 15, completing a then-record four spacewalks.
In 2012, she returned to the ISS as part of Expeditions 32 and 33, during which she also served as space station commander and performed critical repair spacewalks.
Her most recent mission took place in June 2024, when Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed test flight. The mission was initially planned to be short but extended to over nine months due to technical issues with the spacecraft. The pair finally returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission.
A Connection to India and a Message for the Future
Williams, who is of Indian origin, has often spoken about her connection to India and described her visit to the country as a “homecoming”. During her recent visit to Delhi, she shared how viewing Earth from space changed her perspective on humanity.
“It really makes you feel like we are just one,” she said, reflecting on how the planet looks from above and how it removes the sense of division between people.
Looking back on her career, Williams said space was her “absolute favourite place to be” and credited her colleagues for supporting her throughout the journey.
“I had an amazing 27-year career at NASA,” she said, adding that the ISS and its scientific research have paved the way for future Moon and Mars missions.
“I hope the foundation we set has made these bold steps a little easier. I am super excited for NASA and its partner agencies as we take these next steps, and I can’t wait to watch the agency make history,” she added.
As she steps away from active duty, Williams leaves behind a legacy of inspiration, courage, and achievements that will motivate future generations of explorers. Her retirement marks the end of an era, but her influence on space exploration will continue for years to come.
Williams, now 60 years old, has completed three missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and set multiple records during her career. She is widely respected for her achievements and her contribution to the growth of space exploration.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Williams, calling her “a trailblazer in human spaceflight,” and highlighted her role in shaping the future of space missions. He added that her leadership aboard the space station played a crucial role in the development of commercial missions to low Earth orbit.
“Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, and thank you for your service to NASA and our nation,” he said.
A Record-Breaking Career
Williams logged 608 days in space, which is the second-highest cumulative time recorded by a NASA astronaut. She also ranks sixth among Americans for the longest single spaceflight, sharing the position with astronaut Butch Wilmore, with both spending 286 days in orbit.
Her achievements include nine spacewalks, totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes, making her the woman with the most spacewalking time according to NASA. She also became the first person to run a marathon in space, showcasing her dedication to fitness and endurance even while in orbit.
From Space Shuttles to Starliner
Williams’ journey began in 2006 when she flew to space aboard the space shuttle Discovery. She later returned on Atlantis and served as a flight engineer on Expeditions 14 and 15, completing a then-record four spacewalks.In 2012, she returned to the ISS as part of Expeditions 32 and 33, during which she also served as space station commander and performed critical repair spacewalks.
Her most recent mission took place in June 2024, when Williams and astronaut Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner on its first crewed test flight. The mission was initially planned to be short but extended to over nine months due to technical issues with the spacecraft. The pair finally returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission.
A Connection to India and a Message for the Future
Williams, who is of Indian origin, has often spoken about her connection to India and described her visit to the country as a “homecoming”. During her recent visit to Delhi, she shared how viewing Earth from space changed her perspective on humanity.
“It really makes you feel like we are just one,” she said, reflecting on how the planet looks from above and how it removes the sense of division between people.
Looking back on her career, Williams said space was her “absolute favourite place to be” and credited her colleagues for supporting her throughout the journey.
“I had an amazing 27-year career at NASA,” she said, adding that the ISS and its scientific research have paved the way for future Moon and Mars missions.
“I hope the foundation we set has made these bold steps a little easier. I am super excited for NASA and its partner agencies as we take these next steps, and I can’t wait to watch the agency make history,” she added.
As she steps away from active duty, Williams leaves behind a legacy of inspiration, courage, and achievements that will motivate future generations of explorers. Her retirement marks the end of an era, but her influence on space exploration will continue for years to come.
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