Wilmore retires at 62 after 464 days in space, a historic mission delay, and decades of decorated service to NASA
Wilmore retires at 62 after 464 days in space, a historic mission delay, and decades of decorated service to NASA
Veteran NASA astronaut and US Navy captain Butch Wilmore has retired after a 25-year career, ending a journey marked by groundbreaking missions and an extended stay in space that captivated global audiences.NASA praised Wilmore’s service as “truly exemplary,” honoring his achievements across four spacecraft and a career total of 464 days in space.
“His lasting legacy of fortitude will continue to impact and inspire the Johnson workforce, future explorers, and the nation for generations,” said Stephen Koerner, Acting Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Wilmore’s final mission in June 2024 was meant to last just eight days but turned into a nine-month odyssey after technical problems hit the Starliner spacecraft, which he piloted alongside fellow astronaut Suni Williams. They finally returned to Earth in March 2025.
Now 62 years old, Wilmore retires almost two decades beyond the average astronaut retirement age, which typically falls between 26 and 46 at selection. He was first chosen to become an astronaut in 2000 after a distinguished career as a Navy test pilot.
His final mission the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner encountered serious complications upon approaching the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule’s thrusters failed, jeopardizing the docking.
“Docking was imperative,” Wilmore said in May. “If we weren’t able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn’t know.”With the help of Mission Control, the pair successfully docked. But safety concerns over the Starliner led to a difficult decision, they would have to remain aboard the ISS and wait for an alternate return method.
After repeated delays and technical evaluations, NASA eventually sent a SpaceX capsule to retrieve the two astronauts. Their return was met with relief and celebration.
In his farewell remarks, Wilmore reflected on the spirit that kept him looking skyward.
“Even as I ventured beyond Earth’s limits, I remained attuned to the beauty and significance of the world below,” he said.
“An insatiable curiosity” drove him, he added.Despite retirement, Wilmore, like many astronauts, is expected to participate in ongoing health studies that assess the long-term impacts of space travel on the human body.
Both he and Williams underwent intensive physical rehabilitationupon return to Earth, as they readjusted to gravity after nearly a year in orbit.
Wilmore’s legacy will remain as part of NASA’s historic Starliner mission and a remarkable testament to endurance, risk, and exploration.
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