NASA Astronaut Butch Wilmore Retires After 286-Day ISS Mission

NASA astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore retired in August 2025 after a 25-year career that included 464 days in space, five spacewalks totaling 32 hours, and missions aboard four different spacecraft. His final mission, alongside astronaut Suni Williams, was intended as an eight-day test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in June 2024 but was extended to 286 days due to multiple technical failures with the Starliner, forcing them to remain aboard the International Space Station until March 2025. The astronauts returned to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, while the Starliner was brought back uncrewed. Wilmore emphasized that their extended stay was planned and that they were prepared and committed, pushing back against narratives portraying them as stranded or abandoned. Wilmore, a former U.S. Navy captain and test pilot, reflected on his fascination with the cosmos and its connection to life on Earth in his retirement statement. NASA praised Wilmore's dedication and impact on future exploration, highlighting his exemplary career and legacy.