(link set up to start at 2:37:18)Butch Wilmore - He Was Stranded in Space for 286 Days | SRS #287 | 3:27:27
Shawn Ryan Show | 5.96M subscribers | 189,109 views | March 12, 2026
Posted on 03/14/2026 9:08:40 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
(link set up to start at 2:37:18)
Butch Wilmore - He Was Stranded in Space for 286 Days | SRS #287 | 3:27:27
Shawn Ryan Show | 5.96M subscribers | 189,109 views | March 12, 2026
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Barry E. "Butch" Wilmore was raised in Tennessee, where an early fascination with aviation, engineering, and disciplined teamwork set the course for his career. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological University, along with a master’s degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee. Before NASA, Wilmore served as a U.S. Navy aviator, test pilot, and squadron officer, accumulating more than 8,000 flight hours and 663 carrier landings in tactical jet aircraft.
Wilmore flew A-7E and F/A-18 aircraft during four operational deployments aboard the USS Forrestal, Kennedy, Enterprise, and Eisenhower. He completed 21 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and also flew in support of Desert Shield, Southern Watch, and NATO operations over Bosnia. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, he contributed to the early development and carrier certification of the T-45 jet trainer, experience that proved critical to his later astronaut duties.
Selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000, Wilmore flew three space missions totaling 464 days in space. He piloted STS-129 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2009, delivering critical hardware to the ISS. In 2014–2015, he launched aboard a Russian Soyuz as part of Expedition 41, later assuming command of Expedition 42, spending 167 days in orbit and conducting four spacewalks. Most recently, he commanded Boeing Starliner’s first crewed flight in 2024; following an uncrewed return decision, he completed a long-duration ISS mission and returned to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX Crew-9.
Wilmore retired from NASA in July 2025 after 25 years with the agency, one of the few astronauts to fly aboard the Space Shuttle, Soyuz, Starliner, and Crew Dragon. He is married to Deanna, with whom he has two daughters, and is known for steady leadership, deep technical skill, faith, and continued commitment to mentorship and STEM outreach.
THE_RIGHT_STUFF_PING!
Stranded in space for 286 days? The story of Butch Wilmore is the epitome of someone remaining cool under pressure.
I would have gone 31 flavors of Bonkers!!
I’m just talking about him being stranded in space for so long. And then, to go on and have a ‘normal’ life, full of more career challenges, while helping to raise a family.
IOW, he remains capable of enjoying life, not just ‘surviving’ it. Capable of cracking a joke here and there.
THAT is a real Uber-Mensch to me.
He would have made a terrific heart surgeon. A good surgeon must be knowledgeable made brave due to their confidence.
Floating in a tin can
If memory serves...
I think it was Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams
who were both launched in June 2024
and both returned March 2025.
Yeah, old “craps standing up” stranded them up there.
Wow, what an astonishing interview, and what an impressive faith Wilmore has!
This should be required education for every child, tho’ in our mostly secular society, of course that will not happen...
Maybe in our parochial schools at least?
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