Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have been stuck in space since June 2024
Barry “Butch” Wilmore, an astronaut aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, has been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024, along with Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams. Their mission, initially set for just ten days, has stretched into nine months due to technical issues with the Starliner. The two astronauts are now scheduled to return to Earth on March 19.
Butch Wilmore’s daughter expresses frustration over prolonged stay
Amid growing concerns over the delay, Butch Wilmore’s 16-year-old daughter, Daryn, has spoken out about her father’s extended mission. In a TikTok video, she criticized the “negligence” and “political issues” that have kept him in space far longer than planned.
“He’s missed out on a lot. It’s less about the fact that he’s up there sometimes; it’s more about why. There’s a lot of politics, a lot of things I’m not at liberty to say or fully understand. But there have been issues, and there has been negligence,” she said in a video posted on February 6, according to the New York Post.
Despite her frustration, Daryn said she remains hopeful, noting that her family speaks to Butch Wilmore almost every day.
Hope for a long-awaited return
Daryn shared her excitement about the potential mid-March return of her father.
“Recently, we found out he will most likely be coming back in mid-March, which is so exciting. I miss him so much, and I can’t wait to hug him. He’s missed so many family moments, including my sister’s high school graduation and my current show,” she said.
However, she remained cautious, acknowledging that plans could change.
“Fingers crossed—things could always change, especially with this whole situation. We’ve had so many changes. He’s just been bummed, but he’s fine. My dad has always been resilient,” she added.
Starliner mission delays and NASA’s backup plan
Wilmore and Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule on June 5, 2024, for what was meant to be a short test mission. However, technical issues with the spacecraft have caused repeated delays in their return.
NASA has confirmed that it is working with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to explore alternative options for bringing the astronauts back to Earth as soon as practical. The agency highlighted that SpaceX has been conducting regular crewed missions every six months, ensuring smoother astronaut transitions.