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Global News
4 days ago
- Science
- Global News
NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore retires 4 months after extended stay in space
NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore has officially retired less than five months after his unexpectedly long spaceflight came to an end. Wilmore, 62, announced he was hanging up his spacesuit for good on Wednesday. 'After 25 years at NASA, flying in four different spacecraft, accumulating 464 days in space, astronaut and test pilot Butch Wilmore has retired,' NASA wrote in a press release. This comes after Wilmore and Suni Williams launched last summer as test pilots on Boeing's first astronaut flight. What should have been a weeklong trip to the International Space Station turned into a stay of more than nine months because of Boeing's malfunctioning Starliner. Starliner came back empty, and Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth in March with SpaceX. Story continues below advertisement 'From my earliest days, I have been captivated by the marvels of creation, looking upward with an insatiable curiosity. This curiosity propelled me into the skies, and eventually to space, where the magnificence of the cosmos mirrored the glory of its creator in ways words can scarcely convey,' Wilmore said. 'Even as I ventured beyond Earth's limits, I remained attuned to the beauty and significance of the world below, recognizing the same intricate design evident among the stars is also woven into the fabric of life at home.' Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, called Wilmore's commitment to NASA's mission and dedication to human space exploration 'truly exemplary.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'His lasting legacy of fortitude will continue to impact and inspire the Johnson workforce, future explorers, and the nation for generations. On behalf of NASA's Johnson Space Center, we thank Butch for his service,' Koerner added. Story continues below advertisement During his time at NASA, Wilmore completed three missions, launching aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, Roscosmos Soyuz and Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station. He also conducted five spacewalks, totalling 32 hours, outside the orbital laboratory. Selected as an astronaut in 2000, Wilmore logged 464 days in orbit over his three missions. His final spaceflight made up nearly two-thirds of that total: 286 days. 'Throughout his career, Butch has exemplified the technical excellence of what is required of an astronaut. His mastery of complex systems, coupled with his adaptability and steadfast commitment to NASA's mission, has inspired us all,' said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson. Acaba added that as Wilmore steps into his next chapter, 'that same dedication will no doubt continue to show in whatever he decides to do next.' Wilmore had already retired from the navy. Williams, 59, also a retired navy captain, is still with NASA. She joined Vice-President JD Vance's wife Usha Vance at Johnson Space Center in Houston earlier this week, taking part in a summer reading challenge for schoolchildren. When Wilmore and Williams returned from space in March, they received a special welcome when they successfully splashed down near Tallahassee, Fla., after nine months at the International Space Station. Wilmore, Williams, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov were greeted by a pod of dolphins that circled the capsule in the clear blue waters as divers readied it for hoisting onto the recovery ship. Story continues below advertisement Wilmore and Williams were expected to be gone for just a week or so after launching on Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on June 5, 2024. Many problems cropped up during the mission and NASA eventually sent Starliner back empty and transferred the test pilots to SpaceX, pushing their homecoming into February. Then, SpaceX capsule issues added another month's delay. They circled Earth 4,576 times and travelled 195 million kilometres by the time of splashdown. In his first interview after returning to Earth, Wilmore spoke about the thoughts he had while he was up in space. 'It's not about me,' he told Fox News in March. 'It's not about my feelings. It's about what this human space flight program is about. It's our national goals. And I have to wrap my mind around, what does our nation need out of me right now?' Story continues below advertisement — with files from The Associated Press
UPI
5 days ago
- Science
- UPI
NASA and Boeing Starliner astronaut 'Butch' Wilmore retires
NASA astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore announced his retirement on Wednesday after 25 years with the space agency, where he flew several types of spacecraft, including the Boeing Starliner, and accumulated 464 days in space. File Photo by NASA | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore announced his retirement Wednesday after 25 years with NASA and serving as a U.S. Navy test pilot before becoming an astronaut. Wilmore, 62, and astronaut Suni Williams gained a lot of media attention when their 10-day Boeing Starliner test flight turned into a nine-month stay on the International Space Station after lifting off on June 5, 2024, and returning aboard a SpaceX Dragon on March 18. "From my earliest days, I have been captivated by the marvels of creation, looking upward with insatiable curiosity," Wilmore said in a NASA news release announcing his retirement. "This curiosity propelled me into the skies and eventually to space, where the magnificence of the cosmos mirrored the glory of its creator in ways words can scarcely convey," Wilmore continued. "Even as I ventured beyond Earth's limits, I remained attuned to the beauty and significance of the world below," he added, "recognizing the same intricate design evidence among the stars is also woven into the fabric of life at home." Wilmore flew several spacecraft for NASA and accumulated 464 days in space, according to the space agency. He also has flown many types of tactical aircraft as a decorated captain with the U.S. Navy who flew peacetime and combat missions while deployed aboard four aircraft carriers during his military career. Wilmore was graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and served as a test pilot before becoming an astronaut in 2000. "Butch's commitment to NASA's mission and dedication to human space exploration is truly exemplary," Johnson Space Center Director Steve Koerner said. "His lasting legacy of fortitude will continue to impact and inspire the Johnson workforce, future explorers and the nation for generations," Koerner added. "On behalf of NASA's Johnson Space Center, we thank Butch for his service." Wilmore completed three missions aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, Roscosmos Soyuz and the Boeing Starliner, according to NASA. "His mastery of complex systems, coupled with his adaptability and steadfast commitment to NASA's mission, has inspired us all," said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Wilmore is a Tennessee native who earned a bachelor's and master's in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological University and a master's in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee.
