Sunita Williams retires after historic Starliner mission and record-breaking NASA career

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has officially announced her retirement from the agency. The decision comes just months after her return from a challenging nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station. Her career includes record-breaking achievements and a key role in testing Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore launched on the Starliner’s first crewed test flight in June 2024. Technical problems, including thruster failures and helium leaks, extended their mission far beyond the planned eight days. Despite the setbacks, Williams repeatedly expressed confidence in the spacecraft’s capabilities.

Her retirement follows a pattern seen among astronauts who complete major milestones, such as piloting new spacecraft. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, for instance, retired after their SpaceX Crew Dragon mission. Williams herself leaves behind an impressive legacy: 608 days in space—the second-highest total for a NASA astronaut—and nine spacewalks, placing her fourth globally for extravehicular activity. Beyond her technical work, Williams made history as the first person to run a marathon and complete a triathlon in space. NASA has since confirmed that the next Starliner mission will proceed without a crew, focusing on further testing before operational flights.

Williams’ departure marks the end of a distinguished 20-year career with NASA. Her experience with the Starliner mission will inform future improvements to the spacecraft. Meanwhile, the agency continues to prepare for uncrewed test flights as part of its commercial crew programme.