Celebrating 25 Years of Service: Astronaut Butch Wilmore Retires from NASA

Astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore is stepping away from NASA after 25 remarkable years. His journey began in 2000, and he’s had an impressive career, flying on four different spacecraft. In total, he spent 464 days in space and completed five spacewalks, adding up to 32 hours outside the spacecraft.

Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, praised Wilmore’s dedication, saying, “His commitment to NASA’s mission and human space exploration is exemplary. His legacy will inspire future explorers for generations.” You can read more about his retirement in this NASA statement.

Before joining NASA, Wilmore served as a captain and test pilot in the U.S. Navy, gaining both peacetime and wartime experience. His first space mission was the 11-day STS-129 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in November 2009.

Wilmore spent 5.5 months on the International Space Station (ISS) from September 2014 to March 2015, traveling there and back on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. He also participated in Boeing’s first crewed flight of the Starliner. Though meant to be a short mission, thruster issues extended Wilmore’s stay on the ISS. NASA later decided to bring the Starliner back uncrewed in September 2024.

Wilmore returned to Earth in March 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Though the agency hasn’t announced his future plans, it’s likely he’ll continue to be involved in space exploration in some capacity.

Reflecting on his career, Wilmore stated, “From my earliest days, I have been captivated by the marvels of creation, looking upward with insatiable curiosity.” He expressed a deep appreciation for both space and Earth, noting, “The same intricate design evident among the stars is also woven into the fabric of life at home.”

His retirement follows that of fellow astronaut Kate Rubins, who left NASA at the end of July. Together, they represent a generation of explorers who have pushed the boundaries of human spaceflight.

Wilmore’s contributions are a part of the larger narrative of space exploration. As humanity looks towards the stars, his legacy will likely inspire future generations to dream big and explore the unknown.

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