NASA astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams has retired after an outstanding career that lasted nearly 30 years. One of NASA’s most experienced astronauts, Williams officially stepped away from active service at the end of 2025, bringing an important chapter in space exploration to a close.
Williams is best known for her long stays in space. Over her career, she spent 608 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), making her one of the astronauts with the most time spent in orbit. She also set a major record by completing nine spacewalks, spending over 62 hours outside the space station, the highest total for any woman astronaut.
Her first space mission was in 2006, when she flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery. She returned to the ISS in 2012, where she became the commander of the space station. In this role, she led international crews and oversaw important scientific experiments and maintenance work in space.
Williams’ final space mission took place in 2024, when she flew aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on its first crewed test flight. The mission was supposed to be short, but technical problems with the spacecraft meant she and her crewmate stayed in space much longer than planned. Despite the challenges, Williams continued her duties on the ISS and returned safely to Earth in 2025 aboard a SpaceX capsule.
Before becoming an astronaut, Williams served as a U.S. Navy pilot and test pilot, flying different types of aircraft. She joined NASA in 1998 and soon became known for her strong leadership, calm approach and technical skills.
Of Indian origin, Sunita Williams is admired around the world, especially in India, as a symbol of determination and success. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable journey in space, but her achievements will continue to inspire future generations interested in science and space exploration.
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