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Astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita Williams launched into space on June 5, 2024, aboard the Boeing Starliner capsule. The two NASA crew members were a part of Expedition 41 to the International Space Station, which orbits approximately 420 kilometres above the Earth’s surface.

They believed their mission would conclude after eight to ten days.

But they would only return to Earth 286 days later.

Wilmore and Williams finally splashed down in the Gulf of America close to 6 PM local time on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule.

A Touching Touchdown

Two other NASA astronauts, Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, also participated in the return Crew-9 voyage. On 29 September 2024, they joined their colleagues on the International Space Station aboard the same vessel that successfully brought them home.

After an extended stay on the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams began their 17-hour journey back to Earth in their Crew Dragon spacecraft. Read: https://t.co/fOx6DH1Mry pic.twitter.com/Q3fYAEQhrs

— Reuters Science News (@ReutersScience) March 18, 2025

The safe splashdown of Dragon – off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida – was met with rapturous and relieved applause.

Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, Nick, Suni, Butch, and Aleks! pic.twitter.com/M4RZ6UYsQ2

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 18, 2025

Dolphins, the Dragon Players

While the rescue team worked to harness the Dragon and lift it onto the recovery vessel, a pod of curious dolphins unexpectedly but welcomely joined the celebrations.

“We can see Dolphins, who want to come and play with Dragon!”, exclaimed the NASA commentator, as the graceful mammals swam around the spacecraft.

Dolphins x Astronauts: The collab we didn’t know we needed 🐬

A pod of curious dolphins added extra meaning and porpoise to the recovery of #Crew9‘s @SpaceX Dragon and its four explorers shortly after splashdown. pic.twitter.com/JRUmK1FYHR

— NASA (@NASA) March 19, 2025

The pod continued to curiously swim around Dragon while the team on the rescue boat prepared to harness and then lift the SpaceX craft onto the vessel.

“They’re getting quick assists from the honorary part of the recovery team, those dolphins in the water there!”, the intrigued commentator continued.

Delays and Political Problems

Boeing Starliner had initially been scheduled for service in 2017. But years of tests and delayed setbacks meant that its first crewed mission launched on 5 June 2025.

However, Starliner’s main thrusters malfunctioned when it neared the space station. Additionally, multiple small helium leaks were discovered in the spacecraft’s propulsion system.

Despite the unexpected difficulties, NASA successfully docked Starliner at the space station on 6 June.

After two months of testing and attempting to determine the reasons for the malfunctions, NASA decided that returning the two astronauts on Starliner was too risky. Subsequently, the Boeing craft returned to Earth on 7 September unmanned.

Wilmore remained optimistic about his mission despite the uncertainty of his length of stay. In September, he told a CBS reporter, “Eight days to eight months or nine months or 10 months, whatever it is, we’re going to do the very best job we can do every single day.”

More than two months passed before NASA announced on 17 December that a new SpaceX Dragon capsule would retrieve Williams and Wilmore. But NASA anticipated the Dragon mission (carrying Crew-10) would only arrive at the space station in late March “at the earliest.”

SpaceX Dragon carrying Crew-10 finally docked at the space station on 16 March. This allowed astronaut staff to swap and clear the way for Wilmore and Williams to return home.

The delayed return of the astronauts created a political firestorm when SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claimed in a joint interview with President Trump by Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the reason for the extended delay was the Biden administration playing politics.

Hannity: You’re going to help rescue two astronauts

Musk: They were left up there for political reasons pic.twitter.com/jc07ooW018

— Acyn (@Acyn) February 19, 2025

Musk reiterated, “SpaceX could have brought them back several months ago. I offered this directly to the Biden administration, and they refused.”

Pushed to enter into the political storm and give a direct answer to this question, Barry Wilmore remained diplomatic while affirming the current US government.

Carefully choosing his words, Wilmore answered the reporter’s question with, “We have the utmost respect for Mr Musk and, obviously, respect and admiration for our President of the United States, Donald Trump.”

“We appreciate all that they do for us.”

“And we’re thankful that they are in the positions they’re in.”

“We know what we’ve lived up here. We know the ins and outs and the specifics that they may not be privy to. And I’m sure that they have some… information that we are not privy to.”

Family and Being Away from Home

Barry Wilmore is, first of all, a family man, saying that this is his primary calling. He is married to Deanna, and they have two daughters, Daryn, 19, and Logan, 16.

Despite the extended trip away from home, Wilmore continued to contact his wife and daughters regularly through FaceTime. The NASA astronaut enjoys showing them the view of Earth he has from his lofty vantage point.

“It is so cool”, Daryn says. “He gives us a lot of Earth views. I especially like seeing the sunset.”

The Wilmore household was not particularly perturbed by Barry’s unexpectedly long trip out of town for work. Deanna credits this to the family’s faith in God, which gives them all the assurance they need.

“He just takes it knowing the Lord’s in control”, Deanna explained. “Since the Lord’s in control of it, he’s content where he is.”

“You just sort of have to roll with it and expect the unexpected.”

In addition to his family responsibilities, Butch Wilmore is also committed to growing God’s family, the Church. As a result, he is an elder at Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas.

Barry Wilmore’s Christian Faith

Before their trip back down to Earth, Wilmore was interviewed by CBS News. Reporter Mark Strassmann quizzed Barry on how he handled being stuck in the International Space Station for nine months.

“We are all the product of our life experiences, and this extended business trip of yours certainly qualifies”, Strassmann began.

“What is your life lesson or takeaway from these nine months in space?”

Astronomical faith!
CBS News reporter Mark Strassmann to astronaut Butch Wilmore: What is your life lesson or takeaway from these nine months in space?

“My feeling on all of this goes back to my faith. It’s bound in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is working out His plan… pic.twitter.com/uTYDUBi0wt

— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) March 17, 2025

“Well, in answer to your question, I can tell you honestly, my feeling on all of this goes back to my faith”, Butch replied.

“It’s bound in my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“He is working out his plan and his purposes for His glory throughout all of humanity. However that plays out… I am content because I understand that.”

Wilmore continued to reveal the basis for his contentment, saying,

“I understand that He’s at work in all things.

“Some things are for the good. Go to Hebrews chapter 11.

“Some things look to us to be not so good, but it’s all working out for His good, for those who will believe.

“And that’s the answer, so thanks for asking.”

The Journey to Faith in Jesus Christ

Barry was raised in a Christian home by “parents who loved the Lord” – an experience he views as a “blessing.”

His parents “saw the need for the local church”, he continues. “I was instilled at an early age with the truth of God’s Word.

“And so, over the course of time, I was challenged with my faith, even as a young kid. I realised I was a sinner. And I realised what that sin meant: it separated me from God. And quite honestly, I was terrified.

“I remember being in tears because I knew I was a sinner. Even as a ten-year-old. And I knew what that meant. It meant eternal separation from my Lord, because of my sin.

“The Lord brought me to a point with my mum one night. She introduced me to Jesus.”

Growth and a Deeper Understanding

Barry read the Bible from those early years and “continued to grow somewhat.”

“I thought I understood the Bible”, he remarked before revealing a major turning point.

When “I was in my twenties”, Wilmore explains, he came across Christian ministries, including Answers in Genesis (AiG). These taught him about science, creation, origins, theology and the Bible – including its complete trustworthiness.

“The Lord brought me to the understanding that I didn’t know the depth of Scripture and what the Bible truly meant as a whole.”

But when he realised that, actually, he didn’t know much, “it was like an epiphany. I thought I knew enough. But I realised how little I knew.”

Since that time, “The Lord has brought me a long way.”

Wilmore holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science and electrical engineering, as well as a master’s degree in aviation systems.

Before his career as a NASA astronaut, he was a Navy test pilot with the United States Air Force.

Asked whether he saw tension between Christianity and science, he replies, “I personally don’t see contradictions anywhere in science with Scripture, when you break down what the science is.”

Wilmore instead sees the grandeur of creation as a clear testimony to the Creator God of the Bible.

A passionate and confident Christian, Barry looks for opportunities to share about his faith and how it relates to his vocation.

He is scheduled to be one of three Christian astronauts who will share about their adventures in space at an AiG event in July this year. Named “Astronaut Encounter”, the “meet the astronaut” day at AiG’s Ark Encounter will explore the positive relationship between science and the Bible.

“I am still eagerly learning and growing in His truth”, Barry says.

Now it’s also a passion to help others along that same “journey to learn and grow [that] was set on fire” for him since his twenties.

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Photo via NASA.