Thank you for your service, Suni Williams. After 27 years with NASA, she’s retiring with 608 days in space — the second-most of any American astronaut. She’s run a marathon aboard the ISS, logged more than 4,000 flight hours, and completed nine spacewalks, setting a record for most spacewalking time by a woman. Williams flew her first mission in 2006. On her way home, she completed the Boston Marathon from orbit, strapped to a treadmill while her crewmates cheered her on. She finished in 4 hours and 24 minutes. Her final mission, in 2024, made history — but not for the reason anyone expected. Williams launched aboard Boeing’s first crewed Starliner test flight, expected to last just 10 days. But after a major thruster failure, NASA made the call to land Starliner uncrewed. She and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore had to stay aboard the ISS for another 276 days — eventually hitching a ride home with SpaceX. That mission tied her for sixth-longest spaceflight by an American. Her nine spacewalks total 62 hours, fourth-most overall. She’s also a retired U.S. Navy captain and test pilot, having flown over 40 aircraft types. Now 60, she says space is still her favorite place to be. Williams helped pave the way for future Moon and Mars missions. Her leadership and resilience turned setbacks into milestones — and her legacy is etched into the story of human spaceflight. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable era — and the start of one she helped make possible.

Thank you for your service, Suni Williams. After 27 years with NASA, she’s retiring with 608 days in space — the second-most of any American astronaut. She’s run a marathon aboard the ISS, logged more than 4,000 flight hours, and completed nine spacewalks, setting a record for most spacewalking time by a woman. Williams flew her first mission in 2006. On her way home, she completed the Boston Marathon from orbit, strapped to a treadmill while her crewmates cheered her on. She finished in 4 hours and 24 minutes. Her final mission, in 2024, made history — but not for the reason anyone expected. Williams launched aboard Boeing’s first crewed Starliner test flight, expected to last just 10 days. But after a major thruster failure, NASA made the call to land Starliner uncrewed. She and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore had to stay aboard the ISS for another 276 days — eventually hitching a ride home with SpaceX. That mission tied her for sixth-longest spaceflight by an American. Her nine spacewalks total 62 hours, fourth-most overall. She’s also a retired U.S. Navy captain and test pilot, having flown over 40 aircraft types. Now 60, she says space is still her favorite place to be. Williams helped pave the way for future Moon and Mars missions. Her leadership and resilience turned setbacks into milestones — and her legacy is etched into the story of human spaceflight. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable era — and the start of one she helped make possible.