Butch Wilmore, one of the astronauts trapped on the space station, retires from NASA.

Barry Wilmore, better known as "Butch" Wilmore, one of NASA's most famous active astronauts, is retiring after 25 years of service. His name, much to his chagrin, made headlines around the world because, along with Suni Williams, he became "stuck" on the International Space Station (ISS) after their ship, the Boeing Starliner, experienced problems during its first test flight. A trip that was supposed to last a week was extended to nine months.

The US space agency confirmed the news in a statement , highlighting their commitment and dedication to human space exploration, calling them "truly exemplary." "Their enduring legacy of strength will continue to impact and inspire Johnson's team, future explorers, and the nation for generations to come," said Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Wilmore, a former test pilot and U.S. Navy captain, was selected as an astronaut in 2000. His previous experience included operations in both peacetime and wartime, attributes that solidified his profile as one of NASA's most trusted astronauts.

During her career, Wilmore (now 62) logged a total of 464 days in space and participated in five spacewalks, totaling 32 hours of extravehicular work. Her first trip to space took place in 2009, as part of the STS-129 mission aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. Throughout her career, she also flew on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner capsule, and SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

Due to his extensive professional background, he was chosen, along with veteran astronaut Suni Williams, to pilot the first crewed flight of the Starliner. After several delays, the ship, which along with SpaceX's Crew Dragon was chosen to be the new transport for NASA astronauts to the ISS, finally took off successfully in June 2024. However, after reaching orbit, problems began: some of the probe's thrusters failed and several leaks were recorded. After docking at the orbital laboratory, Williams and Wilmore began tests in space to try to determine what had happened, while ground tests were carried out in parallel.

Ultimately, the vehicle returned to Earth uncrewed, while Wilmore and Williams continued their stay on the ISS. "We're not trapped," Wilmore insisted during one of the calls from the station. " We don't feel abandoned . We came prepared and committed to the mission." There, they experienced the change of president and how their situation became politicized, despite their attempts to stay out of it. They both finally returned home in March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon ship.

Although the NASA statement doesn't specify Wilmore's next steps, it's likely that his experience will remain linked, in some way, to the aerospace field.

In his farewell remarks, the astronaut shared a deeply personal reflection on his journey: “Since my childhood, I have been captivated by the wonders of creation, gazing upward with an insatiable curiosity. This curiosity propelled me to the heavens and, eventually, into space, where the magnificence of the cosmos reflected the glory of its Creator in ways words can barely express.”

And he continues: “Even as I ventured beyond the bounds of Earth, I remained attuned to the beauty and meaning of the world below, recognizing that the same intricate design evident among the stars is also woven into the fabric of life back home.”

Wilmore's retirement follows that of fellow astronaut Kate Rubins, who left NASA on July 28, marking a generational transition within the astronaut corps. While both are at the age of leaving the active astronaut corps, these departures coincide with turbulent times at the US space agency, which is under fire due to layoffs and cuts proposed by the Trump administration.