Sunita Williams Retires After 27-Year NASA Career, 608 Days in Space

• NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired after 27 years of service, effective end of December, accumulating 608 days in space across three missions.
• Her recent mission on Boeing's Starliner capsule, intended for a week, extended to over nine months due to spacecraft issues, returning via SpaceX.
• Williams, 60, a former Navy Captain, holds the record for most spacewalk time by a woman, with nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours.
• She is known for carrying Indian cultural items like the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, samosas, an Om symbol, Lord Shiva painting, and a Lord Ganesha idol into space.
• Her father hailed from Jhulasan village in Mehsana district, Gujarat, and she often shared her experiences with Indian students.

Why It Matters: Trailblazing astronaut Sunita Williams retires from NASA, leaving a legacy of space exploration and cultural pride.