Washington, D.C. — Veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has officially retired after an extraordinary 27-year career with the US space agency, effective December 27, 2025. Widely respected for her leadership, technical expertise, and record-setting missions, Williams leaves behind a legacy that has inspired generations of astronauts and space enthusiasts around the world.
Williams first flew to space as a flight engineer for International Space Station (ISS) Expeditions 14 and 15, during which she completed a then-record four spacewalks. Her career reached another milestone in 2012 when she launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 127-day mission as part of Expeditions 32 and 33. During Expedition 33, she served as commander of the space station, performing three critical spacewalks to repair a leaking station radiator and replace key power system components.
Her most recent mission came in June 2024, when Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft alongside astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore as part of NASA’s Crew Flight Test mission. The duo later joined Expeditions 71 and 72, with Williams once again assuming command of the ISS for Expedition 72. She completed two spacewalks during the mission and safely returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
“Suni is incredibly sharp, and an all-around great friend and colleague,” said Scott Tingle, chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center. “She’s inspired so many people, including myself and other astronauts in the corps. We’re all going to miss her greatly and wish her nothing but the best.”
Beyond her spaceflight accomplishments, Williams held several key leadership and training roles at NASA. In 2002, she participated in NASA’s Extreme Environments Mission Operations (NEEMO), spending nine days living and working in an underwater habitat. Following her first spaceflight, she served as deputy chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office and later became Director of Operations in Star City, Russia, after her second mission. Most recently, she played a vital role in establishing a helicopter training platform to prepare astronauts for future Moon landings.
A native of Needham, Massachusetts, Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in physical science from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology. A retired US Navy captain, she is also an accomplished helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, with more than 4,000 flight hours across 40 different aircraft.
Reflecting on her career, Williams said, “Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favourite place to be. It’s been an incredible honor to have served in the Astronaut Office and to have had the opportunity to fly in space three times.”
“I had an amazing 27-year career at NASA, mainly because of the love and support of my colleagues,” she added. “The International Space Station, the people, the engineering, and the science are truly awe-inspiring and have made the next steps of exploration to the Moon and Mars possible. 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.”
With her retirement, Sunita Williams closes one of the most remarkable chapters in modern space exploration, leaving a lasting impact on NASA’s journey toward the Moon, Mars, and beyond.