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NASA Astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore is revealing more about how his Christian faith strengthened him while spending 286 days on the International Space Station (ISS) — 278 days longer than originally planned. Wilmore also recently shared just how close he and fellow astronaut Suni Williams came to being stranded aboard a malfunctioning Boeing Starliner capsule.

During an expansive interview last week, Wilmore reflected for the first time on how harrowing he and Williams’s initial journey to the space station was last summer. As their Boeing Starliner capsule headed toward the ISS after a successful launch, the vehicle inexplicably lost power to four separate thrusters, leaving Wilmore unable to adequately control it. The two astronauts found themselves floating virtually helpless in the void of space, not sure whether they should either attempt to abort the mission and return to Earth or attempt to dock to the space station.

NASA’s mission control eventually instructed Wilmore to relinquish all control of the capsule so they could attempt a remote reset of the thrusters. “That was not easy to do,” he recalled, as it would mean the capsule would be floating in space completely uncontrolled.

Eventually, the remote reset was able to restore power to two of the four failed thrusters, but that’s when yet another thruster failed. “What if we’d have lost that fifth jet while those other four were still down? I have no idea what would’ve happened,” Wilmore observed. “I attribute to the providence of the Lord getting those two jets back before that fifth one failed.”

At that point, Wilmore was finally able to acquire enough control of the capsule to maneuver it to the docking station at the ISS. But due to the multitude of problems with the Starliner’s thrusters, Wilmore knew their trip home was in jeopardy. “I don’t know that we can come back to Earth at that point,” he recalled.

Wilmore and Williams eventually made the decision not to attempt a return flight to Earth in the faulty Starliner, and their original eight-day mission turned into a nine-month ordeal before a trip home could be arranged aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on 18 March.

Vital Lifeline

Through it all, Wilmore said in an interview with CBN News last Monday that his Christian faith was “vital” to him enduring being marooned in space for so long, along with the prayers that his home church, Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas, offered for him. “It’s not just important. It is everything,” he remarked. “It is beyond important. It is vital to existence, vital to my spiritual well-being.”

Gilmore was even able to lead church devotionals and sing gospel songs like “Amazing Grace” with fellow astronauts as well as church members. “The chance to share the gospel and proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord is the driver,” he explained.

As Gilmore went on to share, what was particularly crucial for him during the months-long stretch in space was the ability to view church services while in orbit.

“The word of God continually filling me, I need it,” he emphasised.

“My pastors are the finest pastors on or off, in this case, the planet. And to worship with my church family was vital. I mean, it’s part of what makes me go. And not only that, I also tied into Grace Baptist Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. A buddy of mine is an elder there and a pastor there, and I would watch their service as well every single week, and it was invigorating. It was part of what I need as a believer in Jesus Christ to continue that focus, and [it] assisted me day in and day out, because I need that fellowship, even though it’s fellowship from afar. It’s not like [having] fellowship up close, but still I need it.”

As for gaining perspective on the unexpected trial, Wilmore was unequivocal about the importance of surrendering to divine providence.

“[It was] the Lord’s plan, His purpose,” he insisted. “I’m okay with it, whatever. Is it my plan? No, but my plans are not usually the good plans or the right plans. And the Lord’s always are, regardless of what takes place. God’s word is clear, and I believe it because I’ve lived it. God is always good.”