Astronaut Johnny Kim to leave NASA and return to U.S. Navy

Korean-American astronaut Johnny Kim is leaving NASA to return to active duty in the U.S. Navy after approximately 10 years with the space agency. NASA announced on the 27th that Kim will transition back to the Navy to continue his work in naval aviation training.

Born in Los Angeles to Korean immigrant parents, Kim has maintained a diverse career spanning multiple high-level fields. He previously served as a Navy SEAL, participating in over 100 combat operations during the Iraq War, and later became a physician after graduating from Harvard Medical School. Following his medical career, he trained as a naval aviator.

Selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 2017 through a highly competitive process, Kim spent 245 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) starting in April 2025. During his mission as a flight engineer, he completed 3,920 orbits of Earth. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised Kim as a figure who represents the agency well and inspires many by pushing the boundaries of exploration.