NASA Astronaut Butch Wilmore Retires After Troubled Boeing Starliner Mission

Astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore, a veteran NASA spacefarer with 25 years of service and over 460 days spent in space, has announced his retirement from the agency following a challenging final mission aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. What was intended to be an eight-day test flight to the International Space Station turned into an extended stay of about nine months due to multiple technical problems with the Starliner, ultimately necessitating a rescue return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Wilmore, who has conducted five spacewalks and flown on four different spacecraft, expressed awe at the cosmos and gratitude for his career as he steps away from NASA. Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, praised Wilmore's exemplary dedication and said his legacy would inspire future explorers and the nation. While retiring from NASA, Wilmore's future plans remain unknown, though past astronauts like Peggy Whitson have continued space ventures with private companies after NASA retirement. Wilmore's extended mission and perseverance have drawn public attention and admiration, highlighting both the risks and resilience involved in human space exploration.