NASA has officially announced the retirement of legendary astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams, effective January 2026. Her departure marks the end of a trailblazing 27-year career that saw her break records, command the International Space Station (ISS) twice, and become a global icon for perseverance most notably during her final mission, which turned a week-long test flight into an epic nine-month survival story.
A Career of Records and "Firsts"
Since joining NASA in 1998, Williams has been a force of nature in low Earth orbit. A retired U.S. Navy Captain and helicopter pilot, she logged a staggering 608 days in space across three missions.
Her list of achievements is a testament to her grit:
- The Spacewalk Queen: She holds the record for the most total spacewalk time by a woman, clocking 62 hours and 6 minutes over nine separate outings.
- The Orbital Marathon: She famously became the first person to run a marathon in space, completing the 26.2-mile feat on a treadmill while the Boston Marathon was happening on Earth.
- Commanding the Skies: She served as the Commander of the ISS for two different expeditions (Expedition 33 and Expedition 72).
The Final Frontier: The 2024-2025 Odyssey
Williams’ final mission will go down in history books as one of NASA’s most complex challenges. What was supposed to be an 8-day flight test of the Boeing Starliner in June 2024 turned into a 286-day stay after technical malfunctions, including helium leaks and thruster issues, made the capsule unsafe for a crewed return.
Rather than letting the "stranding" define her, Williams and her crewmate Butch Wilmore integrated into the station's crew, conducting over 150 experiments and even fixing the station's urine processing system (the infamous "space toilet"). She eventually returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
"Space is My Favorite Place"
In her retirement statement, Williams remained humble, crediting her colleagues for her success. "Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favorite place to be," she said. "I had an amazing 27-year career, and that is mainly because of the love and support from my colleagues."
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised her as a "pioneer who paved the way for the Artemis generation." While she may be hanging up her spacesuit, Williams is currently visiting India, where she is advocating for democratic collaboration in the "new space race" to the Moon and Mars.
