Space to Earth.
A floating Barry “Butch” Wilmore spoke Friday from space about his mission, initially estimated for one to two weeks and now projected for about eight months.
A Middle Tennessee native, the Mt. Juliet High School and Tennessee Tech University graduate was part of a news conference broadcast from the International Space Station. He spoke alongside crew member Sunita (Suni) Williams.
The astronauts arrived at the space station in early June aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft its inaugural crew. They were part of a test mission that was beset with problems, including helium leaks and issues with control thrusters.
“Let down?” Wilmore asked rhetorically to a question about his unexpected extended stay, one NASA now says will last until February. “Absolutely not. That never entered my mind, and I don’t think Suni’s either.”
Wilmore talked about his awareness of the inherent risks posed by all space flight, especially test and first-time test missions and turning the page about what he can’t control.