Astronaut, who was stranded in space for 286 days, retires after 27 years

Williams, 59, retired effective December 27, 2025. Her departure follows her safe return to Earth on March 18, 2025, after a 286-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) — a mission originally slated for just eight days. She and crewmate Butch Wilmore launched in June 2024 on the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test but remained on orbit for over nine months due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft. The duo ultimately returned aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Suni Williams has been a trailblazer in human spaceflight,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Her work advancing science and technology has laid the foundation for Artemis missions to the Moon and advancing toward Mars. Her extraordinary achievements will continue to inspire generations.”

Williams’s career statistics cement her legacy as one of NASA’s most accomplished astronauts. She ranks second among NASA astronauts for cumulative time in space, with 608 days across three missions. Her recent 286-day flight ties her with Wilmore for the sixth-longest single spaceflight by an American. A prolific spacewalker, she completed nine spacewalks totalling 62 hours and 6 minutes—the most by any woman and fourth-most overall. She also made history as the first person to run a marathon in space.

“Over the course of Suni’s impressive career trajectory, she has been a pioneering leader,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “Her exceptional dedication to the mission will inspire future generations of explorers.”

Williams’s NASA journey began in 1998. Her first flight was aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2006. She served as a flight engineer, space station commander, and played a critical role as a test pilot astronaut on the inaugural crewed Boeing Starliner mission. Beyond flight, her roles included deputy chief of the Astronaut Office, director of operations in Russia, and helping to develop helicopter training for future Moon landings.

In a statement, Williams reflected on her service: “Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favourite place to be. I had an amazing 27-year career at NASA, and that is mainly because of all the wonderful love and support I’ve received from my colleagues.”

A retired U.S. Navy captain and accomplished pilot, the Needham, Massachusetts, native now concludes a career defined by resilience, leadership, and a series of records that have expanded humanity’s presence in space.