NASA astronaut Shannon Walker retired on July 10 after a career spanning 38 years, with 30 years of federal service and over 21 years as an astronaut. During her two spaceflights, she spent a total of 330 days in orbit, contributing to numerous scientific experiments and technology demonstrations for the benefit of humanity.
Walker served as a mission specialist during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station in 2020, becoming the first woman to fly aboard a Dragon spacecraft. She briefly commanded Expedition 65 during her time on the orbiting laboratory, logging 167 days in space before returning to Earth in May 2021.
Throughout her career, Walker made significant contributions to human space exploration and has left behind a legacy of excellence that will continue to inspire the next generation of explorers for years to come. She recently held the position of deputy chief of the Astronaut Office and oversaw the training and graduation of the 2021 class of astronaut candidates in 2024.