The End of an Era: Record-Breaking Astronaut Suni Williams Retires After 27 Years
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL — NASA announced on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the retirement of one of its most iconic explorers, Sunita “Suni” Williams. Her retirement, which officially took effect on December 27, 2025, marks the conclusion of a historic 27-year career that spanned the Space Shuttle era, the rise of the International Space Station (ISS), and the complex dawn of commercial spaceflight.
Williams’ final mission was perhaps her most challenging—a 286-day odyssey that began as an eight-day test flight. As the pilot of Boeing’s Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT), Williams and her crewmate, Butch Wilmore, launched in June 2024 to certify the new spacecraft. However, thruster failures and helium leaks forced NASA to return the Starliner capsule to Earth empty for safety reasons, leaving the duo on the ISS for nine months. They eventually returned home in March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
A Legacy Written in the Stars
Williams retires as one of the most experienced astronauts in human history. Over three long-duration missions, she cemented a legacy defined by endurance and technical mastery.
- Total Time in Space: 608 days (2nd all-time for a NASA astronaut, behind only Peggy Whitson).
- Spacewalking Prowess: 62 hours and 6 minutes across nine EVAs (The most ever by a woman and 4th most in the world).
- A “Marathon” Achievement: In 2007, she became the first person to run a marathon in space, timing her run on a station treadmill to coincide with the Boston Marathon.
“Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favorite place to be,” Williams said in a statement released by NASA. “I had an amazing 27-year career, and that is mainly because of all the wonderful love and support I’ve received from my colleagues. I hope the foundation we set has made the bold steps to the Moon and Mars a little easier.”
From Navy Pilot to Space Pioneer
Born in Euclid, Ohio, and raised in Needham, Massachusetts, Williams’ journey to the stars began at the United States Naval Academy. As a decorated Navy Captain and test pilot, she logged more than 4,000 flight hours in over 40 different aircraft types before being selected by NASA in 1998.
Her career highlights include:
- Expedition 14/15 (2006): Launched on Space Shuttle Discovery, where she set a then-record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (192 days).
- Expedition 32/33 (2012): Launched via a Russian Soyuz and served as the second female commander of the International Space Station.
- Boeing Crew Flight Test (2024-2025): Her final mission, which turned into a historic display of resilience and adaptability after the Starliner malfunctions.
Shaping the Future
Even while grounded, Williams played a pivotal role in the agency’s future. She served as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office and recently helped develop helicopter training platforms to prepare the next generation of astronauts for lunar landings under the Artemis program.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised her contribution, calling her a “trailblazer who shaped the future of exploration.” While she is hanging up her flight suit, Williams noted she is “super excited” to watch from the sidelines as NASA returns to the Moon.
“The International Space Station, the people, the engineering, and the science are truly awe-inspiring. I can’t wait to watch the agency make history.” — Suni Williams
