NEW DELHI, Jan 21: Veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired from the US space agency, bringing to a close an extraordinary 27-year career marked by record-setting missions, leadership aboard the International Space Station, and lasting contributions to human spaceflight.
Williams, 60, who is currently visiting India, participated in an interactive session at the American Center here on Tuesday. The event, titled “Eyes on the Stars, Feet on the Ground,” introduced her as a retired NASA astronaut and US Navy captain. During the interaction, she reflected on defining moments of her career, including a mission that was initially planned for eight days but turned into a prolonged and challenging stay of more than nine months in orbit due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
In an official statement issued on January 20, NASA confirmed that Williams retired from the agency with effect from December 27, 2025. Over nearly three decades, she completed three missions to the International Space Station and set multiple benchmarks in human spaceflight.
Born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, Sunita Williams is the daughter of a Gujarati father, Deepak Pandya, originally from Jhulasan village in Mehsana district, and a Slovenian mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya. Her achievements have long been a source of pride for both the United States and India.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described Williams as a trailblazer who helped shape the future of space exploration through her leadership and technical expertise. He noted that her work significantly advanced science and technology aboard the space station and laid groundwork for future Artemis missions to the Moon and eventual human exploration of Mars.
Williams logged a total of 608 days in space, ranking second among NASA astronauts for cumulative time spent in orbit. She also features prominently on the list of longest single spaceflights by an American astronaut, having logged 286 days during missions involving Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew-9. In addition, she carried out nine spacewalks, accumulating 62 hours and six minutes outside the spacecraft, the highest total by a woman and the fourth highest overall in spaceflight history. She was also the first person to complete a marathon while in space.
An accomplished aviator and retired US Navy captain, Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in physical science from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology. She has flown more than 4,000 hours in over 40 different aircraft, including helicopters and fixed-wing planes.
Reflecting on her career, Williams said space remained her favourite place and described her time at NASA as an incredible honour made possible by the support of colleagues and teammates. She praised the International Space Station as a remarkable achievement in engineering and international cooperation, noting that it has enabled the next phase of exploration toward the Moon and Mars.
Williams first travelled to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 2006 and later served as flight engineer and commander on multiple ISS expeditions. Her most recent mission, launched in June 2024, saw her once again take command of the space station before returning to Earth in March 2025.
Colleagues at NASA described her as an exceptionally sharp professional and a deeply respected mentor whose influence will be felt long after her retirement. As she steps away from active service, Sunita Williams leaves behind a legacy of courage, endurance, and inspiration that continues to encourage future generations to look to the stars.