Suni Williams has retired after a 27-year career at NASA, having accumulated 608 total days in space and completed three missions to the International Space Station. Her longest single mission was 286 days, tying for the sixth-longest American flight, and she performed nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours and six minutes — the most EVA time for any woman. Williams was also the first person to run a marathon in orbit. Her final mission aboard the SpaceX Starliner in June 2024 was extended to over nine months due to spacecraft problems, for which the crew received only an additional $1,430.
Suni Williams Retires After Historic 27-Year NASA Career — 608 Days in Space
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore return from their 9 month stay on the ISS - Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Suni Williams has announced her retirement, concluding a remarkable 27-year career at NASA and securing her place among the agency's most accomplished astronauts. Over her career she logged a cumulative 608 days in space — making her one of only two NASA astronauts to exceed 600 total days off Earth — and completed three missions to the International Space Station.
Career Highlights
Williams's longest single mission lasted 286 days, a duration that ties her with Butch Wilmore for the sixth-longest American spaceflight. Across her career she performed nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours and six minutes, giving her the record for the most EVA time by a woman and tying her for fourth place on NASA's all-time list. She is also credited as the first person to run a marathon while in orbit.
Notable Missions
Williams made her first trip to space in December 2006 aboard the space shuttle Discovery and later returned on Atlantis with the STS-117 crew. She served as a flight engineer on Expeditions 14 and 15, during which she completed four spacewalks — then a record for a single expedition. She also flew a 127-day mission in 2012.
Her most recent mission began in June 2024 when Williams returned to the ISS with Butch Wilmore aboard the SpaceX Starliner. What was planned as a short visit stretched to more than nine months after technical problems with the spacecraft delayed their return. The extended deployment earned the crew only an additional $1,430 in pay.
Background and Experience
A native of Needham, Massachusetts, Williams earned a bachelor's degree in physical science from the United States Naval Academy and a master's in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology. She has logged more than 4,000 flight hours across at least 40 different helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft.
Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator: "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. Her work advancing science and technology has laid the foundation for Artemis missions to the Moon and for future journeys to Mars. Her extraordinary achievements will continue to inspire generations to dream big and push the boundaries of what's possible. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, and thank you for your service to NASA and our nation."
Suni Williams: "Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favorite place to be. It's been an incredible honor to have served in the Astronaut Office and have had the opportunity to fly in space three times. The International Space Station, the people, the engineering, and the science are truly awe-inspiring and have made the next steps of exploration to the Moon and Mars possible. I am excited for NASA and its partners as we take these next steps, and I can't wait to watch the agency make history."
Williams's retirement closes a distinguished chapter in human spaceflight while leaving a strong legacy for future exploration efforts to the Moon and Mars.
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