After 25 years at NASA, flying in 4 totally different spacecraft, accumulating 464 days in house, astronaut and take a look at pilot Butch Wilmore has retired from NASA.
The Tennessee native earned a bachelor’s and a grasp’s diploma in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological College and a grasp’s diploma in aviation programs from the College of Tennessee.
Wilmoreis a adorned U.S. Navy captain who has flown quite a few tactical plane operationally whereas deploying aboard 4 plane carriers throughout peacetime and fight operations. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Take a look at Pilot College, he went on to function a take a look at pilot earlier than NASA chosen him to turn into an astronaut in 2000.
“Butch’s dedication to NASA’s mission and dedication to human house exploration is really exemplary,” mentioned Steve Koerner, performing director of NASA’s Johnson Area Middle in Houston. “His lasting legacy of fortitude will proceed to influence and encourage the Johnson workforce, future explorers, and the nation for generations. On behalf of NASA’s Johnson Area Middle, we thank Butch for his service.”
Throughout his time at NASA, Wilmore accomplished three missions launching aboard the house shuttle Atlantis, Roscosmos Soyuz, and Boeing Starliner to the Worldwide Area Station. Wilmore additionally returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Moreover, he carried out 5 spacewalks, totaling 32 hours exterior the orbital laboratory.
“All through his profession, Butch has exemplified the technical excellence of what’s required of an astronaut. His mastery of advanced programs, coupled together with his adaptability and steadfast dedication to NASA’s mission, has impressed us all,” mentioned Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Workplace at NASA Johnson. “As he steps into this new chapter, that very same dedication will little question proceed to point out in no matter he decides to do subsequent.”
Most not too long ago, Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, for its first crewed flight take a look at mission, arriving on the house station the next day. Whereas aboard the station, Wilmore accomplished quite a few duties, together with a spacewalk to assist take away a radio frequency group antenna meeting from the station’s truss and picked up samples and floor materials for evaluation from the Future laboratory and the Quest airlock.
“From my earliest days, I’ve been captivated by the marvels of creation, wanting upward with an insatiable curiosity. This curiosity propelled me into the skies, and finally to house, the place the magnificence of the cosmos mirrored the glory of its creator in methods phrases can scarcely convey,” mentioned Wilmore. “At the same time as I ventured past Earth’s limits, I remained attuned to the sweetness and significance of the world beneath, recognizing the identical intricate design evident among the many stars can be woven into the material of life at house.”
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Courtney Beasley
Johnson Area Middle, Houston
281-910-4989