Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams | |
|---|---|
Williams in 2018 | |
| Born | Sunita Lyn Pandya September 19, 1965 Euclid, Ohio, US |
| Other names | Sonika, Sončka, Suni, Sunita Pandya Williams |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) Florida Institute of Technology (MS) |
| Spouse | Michael J. Williams |
| Father | Deepak Pandya |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Captain, U.S. Navy |
Time in space | 608 days, 19 minutes |
| Selection | NASA Group 17 (1998) |
Total EVAs | 9 |
Total EVA time | 62 hours, 6 minutes |
| Missions | |
Mission insignia | |
| Retirement | December 27, 2025 |
Sunita Lyn Williams (née Pandya; born September 19, 1965) is a retired United States Navy captain and former NASA astronaut. Williams served aboard the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expedition 14, Expedition 15, Expedition 32, and Expedition 71 and commander of Expedition 33 and Expedition 72. A member of NASA’s Commercial Crew program, she became the first woman to fly on a flight test of an orbital spacecraft during the 2024 Boeing Crew Flight Test and had her stay extended by technical problems aboard the ISS for more than nine months. She is one of the most experienced spacewalkers: her nine spacewalks are second-most by a woman, and her total spacewalk time of 62 hours and 6 minutes is fourth overall and the most by a woman.