Tue Aug 12 08:47:11 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Veteran NASA Astronaut Retires After Lengthy Starliner Mission
**Houston, August 12, 2025 (The Hindu) -** NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, one of the test pilots aboard the troubled Boeing Starliner mission, has retired from the agency, just months after his unexpected extended stay in space. NASA announced his departure on August 6th.
Wilmore, alongside Suni Williams, launched in the summer of 2024 on Boeing’s inaugural astronaut flight for the Starliner program. Initially intended as a week-long trip to the International Space Station (ISS), malfunctions on the Starliner capsule resulted in a prolonged stay of over nine months. The Starliner returned to Earth unmanned, while Wilmore and Williams were brought back via SpaceX in March.
The mission faced numerous setbacks and highlighted concerns about the Starliner’s reliability, leading to significant delays and cost overruns for Boeing.
Wilmore, 62, had previously retired from the Navy. His fellow Starliner pilot, Suni Williams, 59, also a retired Navy Captain, remains with NASA. She recently participated in a summer reading challenge with Second Lady Usha Vance at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Selected as an astronaut in 2000, Wilmore accumulated 464 days in orbit across three missions. His final, significantly extended spaceflight, comprised a majority of his total time in space, amounting to 286 days.
“Throughout his career, Butch has exemplified the technical excellence of what is required of an astronaut,” said NASA’s chief astronaut Joe Acaba in a statement. “As he steps into this new chapter, that same dedication will no doubt continue to show in whatever he decides to do next.”
The extended Starliner mission has raised questions about the future of the Boeing program and NASA’s reliance on private contractors for space transportation. While the astronauts returned safely, the incident underscores the complexities and risks associated with human spaceflight, particularly with new spacecraft.
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