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Suni Williams Retires From NASA After 27 Years, 608 Days in Space

NASA credits her leadership with advances in Artemis plus commercial crew.

Overview

  • NASA announced her retirement on Jan. 20, confirming it took effect on Dec. 27, 2025.
  • She logged 608 days in orbit, second among NASA astronauts, and tied the U.S. single‑flight mark of 286 days with Butch Wilmore.
  • Williams completed nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours 6 minutes, the most by a woman and fourth‑most overall, and she was the first person to run a marathon in space.
  • Her 2024 Boeing Starliner crew test expanded from a planned short stay to about nine months due to spacecraft issues, with a March 2025 return on SpaceX Crew‑9.
  • The retired Navy captain commanded ISS Expeditions 33 and 72 and remains a visible public ambassador with deep ties to India.