First Woman to Pilot SpaceX Dragon Retires

NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, the first woman to pilot a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, retired on September 2, 2025, after a remarkable 23-year career that spanned the Space Shuttle era to the commercial crew program. With two missions and 213 days in orbit, McArthur’s contributions have left an indelible mark on human spaceflight, from servicing the Hubble Space Telescope to advancing research for NASA’s Artemis program.

McArthur’s most notable achievement came in April 2021 as the pilot of SpaceX’s Crew-2 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During her 200-day stay as a flight engineer for Expeditions 65/66, she conducted groundbreaking research in physical and mental health, robotics, and material science, laying groundwork for future lunar and Martian missions. Her work was integral to the Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to the Moon and eventually Mars.

In 2009, McArthur flew aboard STS-125, the final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. As the last astronaut to manipulate the telescope using the shuttle’s robotic arm, she helped extend its life, enabling discoveries that reshaped our understanding of the universe. NASA described the mission as a “rip-the-envelope-open” feat of science and engineering.

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A former Navy pilot with degrees in aerospace engineering and oceanography from UCLA, McArthur also served as a NASA senior executive, deputy division chief, and assistant director for flight operations. Since 2022, she has been Chief Science Officer at Space Centre Houston, inspiring the next generation of explorers. Married to retired astronaut Robert Behnken, McArthur’s legacy as a trailblazer continues to motivate aspiring astronauts worldwide.

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