Astronaut Jonny Kim Leaves NASA After Ten Years to Resume Navy Career
Jonny Kim, a former NASA astronaut, ends his decade with the agency on Thursday and returns to active duty as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy.
After nearly ten years of service, astronaut Jonny Kim will depart NASA on Thursday to continue his career as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. His most recent mission involved an eight-month flight to the International Space Station in April 2025 aboard Soyuz MS-27, during which he completed 3,920 Earth orbits and traveled close to 104 million miles while conducting experiments in technology, Earth science, biology, and human health.
As the U.S. Operating Segment lead for the second half of Expedition 73, Kim managed operations across the station’s modules, helped achieve a full-dock configuration for the first time in 25 years, and piloted the Canadarm2 to secure a Cygnus XL cargo ship. He and his Russian crewmates returned safely to Kazakhstan in December 2025. NASA officials highlighted his impact on future missions and his role as a mentor, while Kim looks forward to applying his space and medical expertise to naval aviation training.
Why it matters
Kim’s transition underscores the close ties between space exploration and military service, and his experience will influence future NASA missions and Navy training.
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