Jonny Kim leaves NASA
Jonny Kim, who served as a NASA astronaut and is also a qualified medical doctor, has announced his departure from the space agency. He said he will resume his career in the United States military, where he previously served as a Navy SEAL before joining NASA.
Kim was selected for the astronaut corps in 2017 and completed his basic training two years later. In 2023 he launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station, where he spent approximately six months conducting scientific research and performing station maintenance.
During his time on the orbiting laboratory, Kim participated in experiments related to human physiology, biomedical technology and materials science. He also performed several spacewalks to upgrade external systems and helped coordinate the arrival of cargo vehicles.
Although his NASA tenure is ending, Kim expressed pride in the work accomplished aboard the station and emphasized that the skills he gained as an astronaut will continue to inform his future military duties. He plans to rejoin operational units and contribute his expertise in medical and operational fields.