Barry “Butch” Wilmore is a seasoned NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain with a distinguished career in both aviation and space exploration. Born on December 29, 1962, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Wilmore has accumulated over 8,000 flight hours and 663 carrier landings. Before joining NASA, he served as a test pilot and participated in the development of the T-45 Goshawk jet trainer.
Wilmore’s spaceflight experience includes three missions:
- STS-129 (2009): As a pilot aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, he traveled 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits.
- Expedition 41/42 (2014-2015): Serving as a flight engineer and later as commander aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Wilmore spent 167 days in space, conducting various scientific experiments and performing four spacewalks totaling over 25 hours.
- Boeing Crew Flight Test (2024): In June 2024, Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft for its first crewed flight, arriving at the ISS. Initially intended for a short mission, technical issues with the Starliner prolonged their stay. He and fellow astronaut Sunita Williams remained on the ISS for approximately nine months before returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on March 18, 2025.
Throughout his career, Wilmore has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and multiple NASA Space Flight Medals. His resilience and adaptability, especially during the extended mission aboard the ISS, highlight his commitment to space exploration.
For more details on his recent return to Earth, you can watch the following news coverage: