NASA bids farewell to astronaut Megan McArthur, who retires after more than two decades of groundbreaking service. A trailblazer in human spaceflight, McArthur logged 213 days in orbit across two missions, becoming the first woman to pilot a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the final astronaut to operate the Hubble Space Telescope using the space shuttle’s robotic arm.
Her most recent mission, SpaceX Crew-2, launched in April 2021. As pilot, McArthur spent 200 days aboard the International Space Station, serving as flight engineer for Expeditions 65 and 66. Her work advanced research in human health, robotics, and materials science—critical to NASA’s Artemis program and future missions to Mars.
McArthur’s first flight, STS-125 in 2009, saw her aboard space shuttle Atlantis for the last servicing mission to Hubble. She played a pivotal role in capturing the telescope and supporting five spacewalks that extended its scientific legacy.
Megan’s thoughtful leadership and commitment to exploration have left an indelible mark,” said Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “Her legacy will guide the next generation of explorers.
Beyond her time in orbit, McArthur held key leadership roles at NASA. She served as deputy chief of the Astronaut Office in 2019 and assistant director of flight operations for the ISS Program in 2017. Since 2022, she’s championed science literacy as chief science officer at Space Center Houston, NASA Johnson’s official visitor center.
Megan combined technical brilliance with deep compassion,” said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office. “She inspired colleagues and mentored future astronauts with grace and grit.
Born in Honolulu and raised around the world as a Navy child, McArthur holds a B.S. in aerospace engineering from UCLA and a Ph.D. in oceanography from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution. Before joining NASA in 2000, she conducted underwater acoustics research and was an experienced scuba diver.
She is married to fellow astronaut Robert Behnken, who flew aboard the Dragon Endeavour in 2020.
Reflecting on her career, McArthur shared:
Serving as a NASA astronaut has been a profound honor. From Hubble to the ISS, our work in space continues to unlock answers to humanity’s biggest questions. Seeing Earth from orbit reminds us how fragile and precious our planet is—and how vital it is to protect it. I’m proud to have contributed and excited to see what’s next.