Sunita Lyn “Suni” Williams is an Indian-American astronaut and retired U.S. Navy officer, renowned for her extensive contributions to space exploration. Born on September 19, 1965, in Euclid, Ohio, she considers Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science in physical science from the United States Naval Academy (1987) and a Master of Science in engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology (1995).
Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1998, Williams has completed three space missions: Expeditions 14/15, 32/33, and 71/72. Over these missions, she accumulated a total of 608 days in space. Notably, during Expedition 33, she served as the first person to complete a triathlon in space, utilizing the ISS’s treadmill, stationary bike, and a weightlifting device to simulate swimming.
In June 2024, Williams embarked on what was intended to be an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, due to technical issues, her stay on the International Space Station (ISS) extended to nine months. She and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on March 18, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, landing safely in the Gulf of Mexico.
Throughout her career, Williams has set records for her spacewalks, totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes, making her the female astronaut with the most spacewalk time.
Her resilience and dedication have made her a prominent figure in the field of human spaceflight.