NASA veteran Suni Williams, who commanded Expedition 33 on the Space Station, retires after 27 years with the agency, highlighted by three spacewalks and a Starliner crewed flight, while Artemis II aims to loop around the Moon in 2026, keeping real-space achievements in the news.
After nearly three decades with NASA, astronaut Suni Williams retires following a nine-month stay on the International Space Station caused by Boeing's Starliner issues; she and crewmate Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on SpaceX, and Williams logged 608 days in space including a record 62 hours of spacewalking.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams has retired after 27 years with the agency, holding the record for the most spacewalk time by a woman (over 62 hours) and accumulating 608 days in space. Her career included three flights and a pivotal role in Boeing’s Starliner test, which lasted 286 days on the ISS in 2024 due to technical issues, followed by a return on a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Her departure coincides with NASA’s Artemis program progression, signaling a generational shift in U.S. human spaceflight; Williams also made history as the first astronaut to run a marathon in orbit.
NASA veteran Suni Williams announced her retirement, with her Boeing Starliner crewed test flight serving as her final orbit; Williams and crewmate Butch Wilmore ended up staying on the International Space Station for more than nine months after Starliner’s technical issues prompted NASA to bring the crew home uncrewed for safety. Williams, who joined NASA in 1998, has logged 608 days in space and numerous firsts, while Wilmore is also retiring. Their departures follow the pattern of earlier NASA exits after major milestones, including SpaceX’s Crew Dragon test flight, as NASA continues Starliner testing (primarily uncrewed) and pursues future exploration goals.
NASA announced the retirement of astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams after 27 years, during which she flew three ISS missions, logged 608 days in space (second for NASA), performed nine spacewalks (the most by a woman), and led assignments including the Boeing Starliner test flight, with retirement effective December 27, 2025 and a legacy that supports future Artemis-era exploration.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams, currently aboard the International Space Station, plans to celebrate Thanksgiving with her crew by enjoying a special meal and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Despite an extended stay due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, Williams emphasizes she is not "stranded" and is in good health. She and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore are set to return to Earth in February via a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Williams remains optimistic about future Starliner missions once technical issues are resolved.
NASA has announced that astronaut Suni Williams is in excellent health, highlighting her readiness for upcoming missions. This update underscores the rigorous health standards and monitoring that astronauts undergo to ensure their fitness for space travel.
NASA has refuted tabloid rumors about the health of astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard the International Space Station, confirming they are in good health. Speculation arose from photos suggesting Williams appeared gaunt, but she clarified her weight remains unchanged, attributing any physical changes to exercise in microgravity. NASA's chief health officer emphasized that astronaut health is closely monitored, and there are sufficient supplies on the ISS until their scheduled return in February 2025.