NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired from the space agency after 27 years of outstanding service. NASA announced on Tuesday that her retirement took effect on the 27th of last month.
In a press release, NASA highlighted Williams’ many achievements during her long career. She flew on three missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and spent a total of 608 days in space, making her the astronaut with the second-longest time in space in NASA’s history. She also completed nine spacewalks, spending more than 62 hours outside the space station, the highest by any woman astronaut.
Sunita Williams is also known for being the first person to run a marathon in space, an achievement that inspired people around the world.
The Indian-origin astronaut made her first spaceflight in 2006 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. Later, she served as the commander of the ISS during Expedition 33, leading international crews and overseeing important scientific work.
Her most recent mission took place during 2024–2025, when she flew aboard Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX Crew-9 missions. During this period, she also served as the commander of Expedition 72.
NASA praised Williams for her leadership, dedication, and contributions to space exploration. Her career has inspired millions, especially young people and aspiring astronauts across the world.