Suni Williams, a prominent NASA astronaut and former Navy captain, has officially announced her retirement after an impressive 27-year career. NASA disclosed this significant milestone on January 20, 2026, highlighting her remarkable contributions to human spaceflight.
Williams has spent an astounding 608 days in space, ranking second among NASA astronauts in terms of total cumulative time in orbit. Moreover, she shares the sixth spot for the longest individual spaceflights, having completed 286 days during her participation in NASA’s Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew-9 missions alongside fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore.
Her journey in space has included participation in the inaugural crewed Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024. Originally intended to last 10 days, the mission extended over nine months due to a technical issue with the Starliner thruster system, necessitating a later return with SpaceX in March. During this prolonged stay, Williams executed several spacewalks, enhancing her total to nine, which includes the greatest cumulative spacewalk time—62 hours and 6 minutes—among female astronauts, placing her fourth on the all-time list.
Expressing her deep passion for space, Williams remarked, “Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favorite place to be.” She praised the ISS, stating that its people, engineering, and scientific endeavors have laid the groundwork for future explorations to the moon and Mars.
In addition to her extraordinary space missions, Williams also holds the distinction of being the first individual to successfully complete a triathlon and marathon in space. To tackle the 2012 triathlon, she creatively utilized a stationary bike, treadmill, and strength-training equipment to replicate the race experience.
Throughout her military career, Williams logged over 4,000 flight hours as both a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft pilot. Selected as an astronaut in 1998, she has become an inspirational figure in the realm of space exploration, recalling the moment when she received her NASA selection while aboard a Navy ship—a surreal experience echoed by those around her.
With her retirement, Williams leaves behind a legacy that not only celebrates her individual achievements but also paves the way for future generations of astronauts and explorers. Her contributions will undoubtedly be remembered as a cornerstone of NASA’s history in human spaceflight.