NASA astronaut retires after months-long stay in space

Barry “Butch” Wilmore on Wednesday retired from NASA following a 25-year career with the space agency. During his time as an astronaut, Wilmore flew four different spacecraft and spent 464 days in space during three missions, according to NASA. Before joining the space program, Wilmore served as a U.S. Navy pilot and completed four deployments aboard aircraft carriers before NASA in 2000 selected him to become an astronaut.

When was Wilmore most recently in the news? Wilmore and fellow astronaut Suni Williams in June last year flew to the International Space Station aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. They planned to only stay in space for a short mission, but when the capsule experienced a thruster malfunction after arriving at the space station they were stuck waiting for another spacecraft. Williams and Wilmore spent nine months in space until they caught a ride back to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule.

What has he said about his faith? During a press conference after he returned, Wilmore said he relied on Scripture and his church to persist through the months he spent in space. He watched online services broadcasted by home church in Texas and another church in Tennessee every Sunday, he said. Wilmore serves as an elder at his church and led devotionals from space. In NASA’s statement announcing his retirement, Wilmore said the beauty of space mirrors the glory of God.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report about Wilmore’s faith while aboard the space station.