Sunita Williams Concludes Historic Career at NASA

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 21 January 2026

• Sunita Williams retires after 27 years, leaving a lasting legacy at NASA
• Record-breaking ISS missions and spacewalks define her legacy
• Her leadership helped shape NASA’s commercial space future

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, has officially retired concluding her 27 years of pioneering work in space exploration. Best known for her record-breaking spacewalks and an extended nine-month stay aboard International Space Station (ISS), her retirement took effect on December 27, 2025, according to a statement released by the agency on Tuesday.

Over a career defined by discipline and performance, Sunita now 60, flew three missions to the ISS, firmly establishing her reputation as one of NASA’s standout performers.

“Suni Williams has been a trailblazer in human spaceflight, shaping the future of exploration through her leadership aboard the space station and paving the way for commercial missions to low Earth orbit,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. He also noted that her command aboard the space station played a pivotal role in advancing exploration and accelerating the transition to commercially supported mission in low Earth orbit.

Sunita started gaining practical experience in extreme conditions from the very beginning of her participation in the NEEMO underwater mission in 2002. Later on, she advanced to acting deputy chief of the Astronaut Office, where she led operations in Star City, Russia, and contributed to the development of helicopter training for future lunar missions.

Sunita spent 608 days in space over her extensive career, ranking second among NASA astronauts. Her 286-day single mission ties for sixth-longest, and nine spacewalks totalling 62 hours set a women’s record and fourth-highest overall, highlighting her leadership and endurance in space. “Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favourite place to be,” Williams said. “It’s been an incredible honour to have served in the Astronaut Office and to have had the opportunity to fly in space three times.”, Sunita said in her farewell message.