Williams flew to space three times and logged 608 cumulative days in orbit, the second-highest total by a NASA astronaut. She also ranks sixth among Americans for longest single spaceflight, tied with astronaut Butch Wilmore, after both spent 286 days in space during missions linked to Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew-9 program.
Key missions aboard the International Space Station
Over the course of her career, Williams completed nine spacewalks, spending a total of 62 hours and six minutes outside the station. That remains the most spacewalk time recorded by a woman and places her fourth on NASA’s all-time list. She was also the first person to run a full marathon while in orbit, completing the Boston Marathon aboard the space station.
Her first mission launched in December 2006 aboard space shuttle Discovery as part of STS-116. She returned the following year on Atlantis after serving as a flight engineer during Expeditions 14 and 15, a mission that included four spacewalks.
In 2012, Williams launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for Expedition 32/33. She later took command of the station for Expedition 33, overseeing maintenance work that included spacewalks to repair a radiator leak and replace a critical power component.
Recent flight and leadership roles
Williams’ most recent mission came in June 2024, when she and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner for its crewed test flight. The pair later joined Expeditions 71 and 72, with Williams again serving as station commander. She returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 spacecraft.
Beyond flight duties, Williams held several operational roles at NASA, including deputy chief of the Astronaut Office and director of operations in Star City, Russia. She also helped develop helicopter training programs designed to prepare astronauts for future lunar missions.
A retired US Navy captain, Williams logged more than 4,000 flight hours across 40 aircraft. NASA officials said her technical expertise and steady leadership would have a lasting impact as the agency prepares for missions beyond low Earth orbit.
