Mrs Sunita Williams, one of National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) most accomplished astronauts, has retired after a 27-year career that spanned three space missions and 608 days in orbit.
The retirement, announced by NASA, took effect on Dec 27, 2025.
The Indian-origin American, whose father Deepak Pandya hailed from Gujarat, leaves behind a remarkable legacy, including nine spacewalks – the most by any woman astronaut – and a record-setting long mission aboard the International Space Station.
Mrs Sunita, 60, is currently on a visit to India, which she has described as a “homecoming,” reflecting on her deep personal connection to the country.
During her trip, Mrs Sunita also met the family of late American astronaut Kalpana Chawla, underscoring the enduring India-United States bond in space exploration.
