Record-setting astronaut Suni Williams retires from NASA after 27 years

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One of NASA’s most decorated astronauts says it’s his career.

Suni Williams retired from the agency on December 27, 2025 after 27 years of service. During her career at NASA, she spent a total of 608 days outside Earth – the second most days in American history, behind Peggy Whitson‘s 695 – and ran the first ever marathon in space.

“Suni Williams was a pioneer 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 in a statement Tuesday (January 20) which announced Williams’ retirement.

“His work to advance science and technology laid the foundation for Artemis missions to the moon and move towards Marchand his extraordinary achievements will continue to inspire generations to dream big and push the boundaries of what is possible,” Isaacman added. “Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement and thank you for your service to NASA and our nation.”

Williams joined NASA in 1998, as part of a class of astronauts nicknamed “The Penguins.” She first flew into space in December 2006, living aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until the end of April 2007.

In the home stretch of this mission, she participated in the Boston Marathon from orbit, running on a treadmill to the encouragement of his teammates. Williams finished the 26.2-mile race in four hours and 24 minutes.

She flew two more long-duration missions to the ISS, launching to the station in July 2012 and then again in June 2024. The latter flight was the Boeing’s first crewed mission. Starliner spaceship, which did not go as planned.

Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore were supposed to spend only about 10 days in space. But Starliner encountered propellant problems on the way to the ISS, and NASA decided to extend the duo’s mission while it determined how to handle the situation.

The agency ultimately decided to bring the Starliner down without a crew, which happened without incident. in September 2024. Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS until March 2025, when they returned to Earth on the descending leg of EspaceXAstronaut Crew-9’s mission.

Williams and Wilmore (who retired in August 2025) spent 286 days in space during this mission, tying them for sixth place for longest spaceflight by an American. (Frank Rubio holds this record, at 371 days.)

During his career at NASA, Williams led nine spacewalkswhich lasted a total of 62 hours and 6 minutes. This is the record for time spent spacewalking by a woman, and is the fourth overall.

Williams, 60, is from Needham, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor’s degree in physical sciences from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology. She is also a retired US Navy captain and pilot who has logged over 4,000 flight hours on 40 different aircraft.

But she was probably always destined to become an astronaut.

“Everyone who knows me knows that space is my favorite place. It has been an incredible honor to have served in the astronaut office and to have had the opportunity to fly into space three times,” Williams said in the same statement.

“I have had an incredible 27-year career at NASA, and that is mainly due to all the wonderful love and support I have received from my colleagues,” she added. “The International Space Station, the people, the engineering and the science are truly impressive and have made the next steps in Moon and Mars exploration possible. I hope the foundation we have established has made these bold steps a little easier. I am very excited for NASA and its partner agencies as we take these next steps, and I look forward to seeing the agency make history.”