Veteran astronaut Sunita Williams has officially retired from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), concluding an extraordinary 27-year career in human spaceflight. NASA confirmed that her retirement became effective on December 27, 2025, shortly after Christmas, bringing to a close one of the most distinguished journeys in the agency’s history.

Williams is widely recognized for her remarkable time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where she spent a total of 608 days across three missions. Notably, a mission planned for just 10 days extended to more than nine months due to technical complications, further underscoring her resilience and professionalism as an astronaut.

In June 2024, Williams and fellow astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore traveled to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule for its first crewed test flight. However, propulsion issues and helium leaks delayed their return. While Wilmore departed NASA in mid-2024, Williams safely returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.

During her tenure at NASA, Williams completed nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes — the highest cumulative spacewalk time achieved by any female astronaut. She also made history by becoming the first person to run a marathon in space, highlighting her exceptional endurance and dedication.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Williams as a “pioneer of human spaceflight,” acknowledging her contributions during a critical transition period in NASA’s post-shuttle era. Selected as an astronaut in 1998, the Indian-origin spacefarer leaves behind a legacy of courage, leadership, and inspiration for future generations.