NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is leaving the company after almost a decade, together with an eight-month science mission aboard the Worldwide Area Station, to proceed serving as a lieutenant commander within the U.S. Navy, in keeping with a NASA launch.
Kim launched to the area station in April 2025 aboard the Soyuz MS‑27 spacecraft and served as a flight engineer throughout Expeditions 72 and 73. NASA mentioned he orbited Earth 3,920 instances and travelled almost 104 million miles, contributing to investigations throughout expertise growth, Earth science, biology and human analysis tied to future exploration.
“Jonny Kim represents the easiest of NASA, an individual who regularly pushed the boundaries of exploration whereas inspiring numerous others,” mentioned NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “His contributions aboard the Worldwide Area Station superior important science that may form NASA’s future missions for many years to return. We’re grateful for his dedication to our nation and to the pursuit of data, and we want him success as he continues his service within the U.S. Navy.”
NASA mentioned Kim served because the U.S. Working Phase lead for the second half of Expedition 73, overseeing operations throughout the station’s worldwide modules. The company additionally mentioned the station reached a milestone through the expedition when each obtainable docking port was occupied for the primary time in 25 years.
Through the mission, NASA mentioned Kim commanded the Canadarm2 robotic arm through the first seize of Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft, which delivered 11,000 kilos of provides. Kim and his Roscosmos crewmates landed in Kazakhstan in December 2025, NASA mentioned.
“Jonny has been an integral a part of the company, and his immeasurable impression will probably be felt for generations to return,” mentioned Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Area Heart in Houston. “From advancing groundbreaking science to inspiring the following era, Jonny has been an unimaginable supply of inspiration to our nation. His distinctive expertise, willpower, and grit will depart an enduring legacy at NASA.”
Kim was chosen as a NASA astronaut in 2017 and accomplished two years of astronaut candidate coaching, together with instruction in station methods, Russian language, robotics, T‑38 flight operations, geology, survival coaching and spacewalk preparation, NASA mentioned.
He later supported station operations as a capsule communicator in Mission Management at Johnson, and contributed to Artemis program growth via roles within the astronaut exploration department, the astronaut crew operations department, and as increment lead for Expedition 65, in keeping with NASA.
“Jonny approached each project with humility, precision, and steadfast dedication to the mission,” mentioned Scott Tingle, chief of the Astronaut Workplace at NASA Johnson. “His mixture of medical coaching, operational expertise, and engineering perception strengthened our crew and contributed to developments in exploration and area station operations.”
NASA mentioned Kim enlisted within the U.S. Navy after graduating highschool in 2002, skilled as a hospital corpsman and accomplished SEAL coaching earlier than becoming a member of SEAL Workforce Three. NASA mentioned he took half in additional than 100 fight operations and obtained the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Fight “V,” and different commendations.
NASA mentioned Kim holds a bachelor’s diploma in arithmetic from the College of San Diego and a health care provider of drugs from Harvard Medical College, and accomplished medical and flight coaching that led to his designation as a naval aviator and flight surgeon.
Kim is returning to energetic obligation to finish the rest of his navy profession inside naval aviation coaching, NASA mentioned.
“Contributing to area exploration and serving NASA has been the glory of a lifetime,” mentioned Kim. “All through my profession, I’ve realized that past the missions, the coaching, and the {hardware}, success at all times comes right down to the individuals. They’re our best asset, and main with love and empathy is how we obtain the unimaginable. I sit up for carrying my dedication to service, my enduring love for area and expertise, and the hard-earned classes of this previous decade into my subsequent chapter to make a significant impression on humanity’s future.”
