Vast Appoints Former NASA Astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams as Astronaut Advisor

Former NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Captain Sunita “Suni” L. Williams has joined Vast as an Astronaut Advisor. She joins Vast’s esteemed group of Astronaut Advisors led by Lead Astronaut Andrew Feustel, including Garrett Reisman, Megan McArthur, and former JAXA astronaut and Vast Japan General Manager Naoko Yamazaki. 

Williams, who retired from NASA in 2025, has logged a total of 608 days in space. Williams was selected by NASA as an Astronaut in 1998, and flew on three long-duration space missions: Expeditions 14/15, 32/33, and 71/72. She has also completed 62 hours and 6 minutes of spacewalk time, the most of any female astronaut, and the third on NASA’s all-time list. As an Astronaut Advisor at Vast, she will use her orbital experience to advise on astronaut operations, spacecraft design, and mission readiness. Her expertise will help ensure that Vast’s space stations can safely support short and long-duration missions.

“It is an honor to welcome Williams to our team; she has pioneered so many achievements during her career,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “Her specialized knowledge will help shape the continued development of our space stations, and we look forward to her contributions.”

“Williams brings a combination of operational experience and technical insight. Her depth of knowledge, shaped by years of missions, training, and leadership, allows her to offer guidance that is both practical and forward-looking,” said Feustel, Lead Astronaut. 

“It’s been an honor to serve in my previous positions. Now I hope to help usher in the future era of commercial human spaceflight, including the next steps of exploration to the Moon and Mars, and to inspire future generations of astronauts." Williams said. “The transition to commercial space station providers is imminent and I’m confident that Vast is ready to deliver on behalf of NASA and for other space agencies around the world.”

While at NASA, Williams held both technical and management positions, including work in robotics, Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, Director of Operations in Russia, Flight Engineer for Expeditions 14, 32, and 71, and Commander of Expeditions 33 and 72. She has also received numerous military awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal. 

Her last mission was in June 2024, when she launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for its first crewed mission to the International Space Station. After NASA’s decision to return Starliner uncrewed, Williams continued serving as a member of Expeditions 71/72. She returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on NASA’s Crew-9 mission.  

Williams earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. She was commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer in 1987, and became a Naval Aviator in 1989. She then went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. She served in multiple operational, test, and leadership aviation roles, logging more than 4,000 flight hours in 40 aircraft.

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