Once bitten, twice shy? NASA astronaut who famously spent 9 months stuck in space dramatically RETIRES less than a year after returning to solid ground
Suni Williams, a NASA astronaut who famously spent nine months stuck in space, has dramatically retired, less than one year after returning to solid ground.
Ms Williams and fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, returned to Earth on March 19 last year, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule which splashed down off the coast of Florida.
The pair had left Earth in June 2024, planning to undertake an eight–day test flight of the new Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS).
However, after the Starliner capsule developed numerous technical issues during the flight, the astronauts were forced to wait until the next crew rotation to return to Earth.
In total, the pair spent 286 days in space – 278 days more than they had initially planned.
Despite the traumatic experience, Ms Wiliams maintains that 'space is my absolute favourite place to be'.
'It's been an incredible honor to have served in the Astronaut Office and have had the opportunity to fly in space three times,' she said.
'The International Space Station, the people, the engineering, and the science are truly awe–inspiring and have made the next steps of exploration to the Moon and Mars possible. I hope the foundation we set has made these bold steps a little easier.'
Suni Williams, a NASAastronaut who famously spent nine months stuck in space, has dramatically retired, less than one year after returning to solid ground
The unexpectedly long visit to space appeared to take its toll on the 60–year–old. As the days rolled by, health experts and NASA insiders began to raise concerns that Ms Williams was rapidly losing weight
In total, Ms Williams spent 27 years in service, completing three missions aboard the ISS.
'Suni Williams has been a trailblazer in human spaceflight, shaping the future of exploration through her leadership aboard the space station and paving the way for commercial missions to low Earth orbit,' said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
'Her work advancing science and technology has laid the foundation for Artemis missions to the Moon and advancing toward Mars, and her extraordinary achievements will continue to inspire generations to dream big and push the boundaries of what's possible.
'Congratulations on your well–deserved retirement, and thank you for your service to NASA and our nation.'
Ms Williams' 286–day stint on the ISS saw her total days logged in space skyrocket to 608 – second on the list of cumulative time in space by a NASA astronaut.
However, the unexpectedly long visit to space appeared to take its toll on the 60–year–old.
As the days rolled by, health experts and NASA insiders began to raise concerns that Ms Williams was rapidly losing weight.
Photos showed her looking gaunt upon returning to Earth, although Ms Williams maintained that she didn't actually lose any weight.
Ms Williams and fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, returned to Earth on March 19 last year, aboard a SpaceXCrew Dragon capsule which splashed down off the coast of Florida
'I think things shift around quite a bit, you probably heard of a fluid shift,' she said.
'Folks in space you know, their heads look a little bit bigger because the fluid evens out along the body.'
Her retirement comes just months after her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, announced his own retirement.
At the time of his announcement, several users on X speculated that the exended stint in space may have sparked the retirement.
'Smart move if you stranded me in space for 9 months I would not fly for you either,' one user tweeted.
Another added: 'Well hell can you blame him.
'They were stuck in space for damn near a year. I'd never take another mission after that.'
And one wrote: 'I bet he was no longer capable of passing physical from his extended sojourn.'
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