Barry “Butch” Wilmore is safe and sound at home with his family.
Following his nine-month sojourn in space with Suni Williams, NASA astronaut’s child, Daryn Wilmore, gave an account of his readjustment process upon returning to Earth.
He’s adapting nicely to gravity,” the 19-year-old wrote in his March 24 TikTok update, “and I’m incredibly grateful for the last few days we’ve spent together as a family.
Observing that her family opted against filming their gathering, preferring to preserve the tender instant solely among themselves, Daryn nevertheless shared several pictures capturing the group’s joyous reunion, their broadest smiles shining brightly.
300 days had passed since his departure when Butch and Suni took off in the Starliner spacecraft, planning an eight-day journey in space. However, due to several technical problems, the Boeing spacecraft was forced to return, extending their stay in space beyond their initial expectation.
Despite the challenges they faced, both astronauts made it clear that they never felt lonely or isolated during their mission. Meanwhile, for Daryn, adjusting to the overwhelming focus and contrasting accounts about her father’s space voyage online proved to be a challenging experience.
In her message, she conveyed her discomfort about the excessive public scrutiny and the spread of false information. She found it peculiar to see her father’s (and her own) image everywhere, and at times, the stories seemed exaggerated since people often speak without proper understanding or lack of research.
Despite the wait, upon his much-anticipated comeback, she gave a peek at how Butch spent his initial days after returning to Earth.
Daryn mentioned in a TikTok video on March 18 that he will undergo various medical tests over the next few days as part of ongoing research related to human space flight. Once the tests are done, he will adjust to Earth’s gravity and normal routines again since his lifestyle has been quite different during the last nine months in space.
Furthermore, going beyond just adhering to rules, this college student took every possible step to ensure her father felt cherished and at home, as they had been separated for quite some time.
She went on to say, “I’m preparing his preferred dessert, a pecan pie. I’ve got a list of things he loves and activities we enjoyed together, which I plan to do with him over these next few days while he’s here before I return to school, or during the upcoming months when he visits again.
For more on Butch and Suni’s time in space, keep reading.
Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore blasted off aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, with an aim to spend eight days at the International Space Station. Soon after takeoff, they reported a “steady and independent leak” in their propulsion system’s piping, as detailed by the Associated Press.
During their journey to the International Space Station (ISS), a persistent leak stayed stable, but unfortunately, four new leaks developed and five thrusters malfunctioned. Despite these setbacks, they managed to dock safely at the ISS, realizing that their mission might extend beyond the standard eight-day duration.
Two months following an inconvenient launch, NASA admitted to the predicament of two astronauts stranded in space. At that moment, the space agency was working on assessing if the Starliner was ready for another space voyage. Meanwhile, Boeing had stated at the time that it should be prepared, with the company informing TopMob News via a statement, “Should NASA choose to alter the mission, we will carry out the required steps to adjust Starliner for an uncrewed re-entry.
In response to public worry about the situation of astronauts Wilmore and Williams, Scott Hubbard, a former NASA official, reassured the Associated Press. He stated that while these experienced astronauts are temporarily immobilized, they are far from being in dire straits. They possess an abundance of supplies and tasks to keep them occupied.
Instead of trying to repair the Starliner, NASA’s confirmation that Williams and Wilmore would come back to Earth via a SpaceX mission in February or March prompted their families to express their thoughts.
Deanna Wilmore, Wilmore’s spouse, shared their family’s situation with WVLT in August, stating, “You basically have to adapt and be ready for anything unforeseen.
At the same time, Williams’ spouse, Michael, mentioned that he believed she wouldn’t feel troubled by extending her stay in space. He shared this sentiment with The Wall Street Journal, saying, “That’s where she feels most content.
Prior to completing their six-month stint in space, Williams and Wilmore discussed their unique Thanksgiving celebrations onboard the International Space Station.
Williams shared with NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt from the ISS on November 27 that they had prepared a selection of food reminiscent of Thanksgiving. This includes smoked turkey, cranberries, apple cobbler, green beans and mushrooms, and mashed potatoes.
Williams additionally emphasized that herself and Wilmore were thriving during their prolonged space voyage.
As a lifestyle aficionado, let me assure you, there’s no need for concern. We’re thriving, maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise routine. Up here, we also manage to find plenty of joy and entertainment. So, sit back, relax, and let the good vibes flow!
Initially, NASA anticipated that the astronauts would come back from space in February. However, due to some postponements in the SpaceX mission responsible for their return, NASA announced that they would remain in space until either March or April instead.
In February, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Williams and Wilmore had been left stranded in space during their initially planned eight-day mission which had extended to eight months. However, after this attention-grabbing statement, the astronauts refuted the president’s assertion.
In his interview with Anderson Cooper on February 13, Wilmore emphasized that they do not feel deserted. Instead, he expressed that they are neither stuck nor stranded. They arrive well-prepared and dedicated.
Williams interjected during the interview that the pair were “doing pretty darn good, actually.”
Speaking as someone who’s part of this incredible team, I can confidently say that we’re well-equipped with supplies, including food and clothing. Our crew is top-notch, and we’ve been making the best out of our extended stay on the International Space Station. Although it was a bit longer than anticipated, we’ve both been trained for just such situations. I believe we’ve truly capitalized on this unique opportunity.
In the course of the interview, it was affirmed that Wilmore and Williams would be back on Earth following SpaceX’s launch of the Dragon spacecraft on March 12.
As your go-to lifestyle guide, let me clarify this for you in a friendly and approachable manner: “People will visit us, meet up, and park their vessels here. For approximately a week, we’ll switch things over, and then we plan to be back on or around the 19th of March.
A few days prior to her father’s scheduled arrival back on Earth, Daryn Wilmore, Wilmore’s daughter, publicly shared her thoughts regarding her father’s space voyage and the anticipation surrounding his return.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail on March 6th, I admitted that this situation has been mentally taxing for me. There have been problems, there has been negligence, and these factors have contributed to the continuous delays. Regrettably, one issue has led to another, creating a seemingly endless stream of complications.
Daryn conveyed that her father was disappointed, yet overall, he was faring well aboard the International Space Station. Moreover, she emphasized that her father is incredibly tough-minded.
Following a nine-month sojourn in space, Wilmore and Williams touched back down on Earth on March 18th. After landing near Florida’s coast, the NASA astronauts, including fellow NASA crew member Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, were carried off the spacecraft on stretchers – a common procedure for space travelers who usually can’t walk immediately after their return.
According to former NASA senior scientist John DeWitt, many people prefer not to be carried out on stretchers, but they are informed that it is necessary.
Daryn, Wilmore’s daughter, shared some insights about how her father might spend his initial days upon returning to Earth.
In her March 18 TikTok video, she explained that he will be undergoing tests for a few days ahead. This is necessary since they are still part of the ongoing study about space travel for humans. He will also adjust to being back on Earth’s gravity and getting accustomed to Earth’s routines again, as these past nine months in space have been quite different.
After returning from their eight-month space mission, NASA considered whether the astronauts would receive additional compensation for working beyond their regular hours.
According to NASA’s explanation to People magazine, astronauts working on the International Space Station are paid a standard 40-hour weekly wage. They don’t get additional compensation for extra hours worked or for holidays and weekends.
What does a typical 40-hour workweek salary for an astronaut amount to? It can range from approximately $84,365 to $152,258 based on the U.S. government’s pay scale for positions such as GS-11 and GS-14.
Upon his long-awaited arrival home, Daryn joyfully expressed her feelings upon seeing her father, Butch, again.
The college student mentioned on TikTok that they are preparing their friend’s preferred dessert, a pecan pie. To make the most of his visit before they return to school, they have a list of his favorite things and shared memories they plan to recreate in the coming days or weeks.
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2025-03-28 22:49