Middle Tennessee reacts to homecoming of native astronaut Barry ‘Butch' Wilmore
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Communities across Middle Tennessee breathed a sigh of relief after Barry 'Butch' Wilmore safely returned to Earth Tuesday afternoon.
Wilmore, a Middle Tennessee native, left for what was supposed to be an eight-day trip to the International Space Station in June 2024. After months of delays, Wilmore was one of several astronauts to safely return to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft Wednesday afternoon.
RELATED: Tennessee Tech University ready to welcome Barry 'Butch' Wilmore home
Wilmore, an active member of the Board of Trustees for Tennessee Tech University, got a warm welcome back from his alma mater.
'The entire Tennessee Tech community celebrates the safe return of our trustee, alumnus, friend and hero, Barry 'Butch' Wilmore,' TTU president Phil Oldham said. 'Over the last nine months, Barry has shown the world the strength and tenacity that our campus has witnessed up close over many years. His faith sustained him through unexpected challenges and brought him to this moment. He has made all of us at his alma mater enormously proud. With this historic mission, Barry has not only further cemented his place in the history of Tennessee Tech, but also in the history of spaceflight. Today, we rejoice with Barry's family who will soon get their long-awaited reunion with their husband, father, brother and son – and we look forward to Barry's return to this campus in the coming months, where we are already planning ways to honor his achievement and remind him of all he means to his fellow Golden Eagles.'
VIDEO: Mt. Juliet honors Barry Wilmore ahead of return flight
The Mt. Juliet Police Department reposted a social media post from NASA confirming splashdown and welcoming Wilmore back.
Governor Bill Lee reposted the same post from NASA on X, thanking President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for their efforts getting Wilmore home.
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