The Star of the Sky: Sunita Williams
“608 Days, 9 Spacewalks, 1 Legend: The Retirement of Sunita Williams in 2026.”
Sunita Williams is one of the most famous astronauts in the world. She has spent a lot of time living and working in space. She is a hero for many people, especially for women who want to become scientists and explorers.
Early Life and Education
Sunita was born in Ohio, USA, in 1965. Her father was from India and her mother was from Slovenia. She loved to learn and was very hardworking. She went to the United States Naval Academy and later studied engineering. Before she became an astronaut, she was a pilot in the Navy and flew many different types of helicopters.
Life as an Astronaut
NASA chose Sunita to be an astronaut in 1998. Since then, she has traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) several times. She is known for her “spacewalks”—this is when astronauts go outside their spaceship wearing a special suit. She has spent more than 60 hours walking in open space!
Her Latest Mission (2024-2025)
In June 2024, Sunita flew on a new spacecraft called the Boeing Starliner. The mission was supposed to be short, but some technical problems meant she had to stay in space for over nine months! She finally returned to Earth on March 18, 2025. Even during the long wait, she stayed positive and helped lead the space station.
The Final Journey: 2026 Retirement
After a long and amazing career, Sunita Williams officially retired from NASA on December 27, 2025. She has spent a total of 608 days in space throughout her life. She will always be remembered as a brave explorer who reached for the stars.
