NASA’s Sunita Williams is hanging up her spacesuit, marking the end of an illustrious career that has taken her to cosmic heights. With a legacy that spans decades, Williams has cemented her place in the annals of space exploration history. The renowned astronaut is retiring after a remarkable 9-month mission in space, a testament to her unwavering dedication, curiosity, and skill.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams retires after 27-year career
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has officially retired after a distinguished 27-year career, effective December 27, 2025. The decision announced on Tuesday, January 20, comes after her recent return from a 9-month space mission.
During her time at NASA, Suni Williams completed three missions aboard the International Space Station, logging 608 days in space. This makes her the second NASA astronaut with the most cumulative time in space. She set multiple records, including the most spacewalk time by a woman. The former Navy captain conducted nine spacewalks, totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes.
Astronaut Butch Wilmore had served alongside Williams on the Boeing capsule test flight. He retired from NASA in the summer of 2025.
The pair embarked on a mission to the space station in 2024, marking the inaugural flight of Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule. The journey was initially expected to last approximately one week. However, their mission was extended to over nine months due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft. Ultimately, they returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, utilizing a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for their journey home.
Jared Isaacman, NASA’s administrator, paid tribute to Sunita Williams by calling her “a trailblazer in human spaceflight.” He extended his congratulations, saying, “Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement.”
Boeing’s upcoming Starliner mission will transport cargo, rather than crew, to the International Space Station. NASA has prioritized resolving the spacecraft’s thruster and related issues, deeming it necessary before putting crew on board. The trial will take place later this year.
