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Sunita Williams
Serving on long space-station missions and commanding the International Space Station.
First long mission · Expedition 33
- Born
- 19 September 1965
- Birthplace
- Euclid, Ohio, United States
More people
Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams is a former NASA astronaut and former naval aviator whose flights include a much-extended Boeing spacecraft test mission.
Early life
Massachusetts upbringing
Grew up in Needham in a family with Indian and Slovenian roots.
Naval training
Graduated from the US Naval Academy and became a helicopter pilot and test pilot.
Career
- 1998
NASA selection
Entered the astronaut corps.
- 2006–2012
Space-station missions
Completed two long stays and served as station commander.
- 2024–2025
Extended mission
Flew on Boeing’s crewed test and returned on a SpaceX vehicle after an extended ISS stay.
- 2025
Retirement
Retired from NASA in December after 27 years with the agency.
Missions
First long mission
Worked aboard the ISS and performed spacewalks.
Expedition 33
Commanded the space station.
Crew Flight Test
Helped maintain station operations during an unexpectedly long mission.
Beyond spaceflight
Fitness in orbit
Has taken part in endurance events while aboard the station.
Public outreach
Her missions have drawn interest across the United States and India.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗NASA: career and retirement ↗Photo: Robert Markowitz. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
