KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – When NASA’s SpaceX mission lifted off, it was only expected to be in space for eight days, but it has now been more than eight months after safety concerns caused delays.
University of Tennessee graduate and Murfreesboro native Butch Wilmore is one of the astronauts on board.
His family, who now lives in Texas, shared that since Wilmore has been in space, he’s missed out on several key moments in their family like birthdays, Christmas, and his 30th wedding anniversary.
They’ve been able to talk to him every day over a video call and celebrate those milestone moments together over the past eight months.
NASA announced this week that months of delays could be coming to an end. They are now planning on bringing Wilmore and others on board back home on March 12.
“It almost feels unreal, it feels like it’s been so long. Like so long,” said Wilmore’s wife, Deanna.
The Wilmore family said they are thrilled to hear that her husband and dad could be coming home in a months time, with the hope of Wilmore being able to make it home for his daughter’s high school graduation in May.
“I am very excited I will say there was a time like a month or two ago that I thought he’s not going to make it, he’s for sure not going to make it. But I have a lot of hope that he will now,” said Wilmore’s daughter, Logan.
In part, the delayed return has been attributed to safety concerns.
For Wilmore’s family, it’s been a scary reality, as they’ve checked in with him every day from space over a video call where they get insight as to all that has happened.
“They were in manual mode for like an hour and twenty minutes and it was extremely dangerous. And if it hadn’t been for the ground team and mission control, you know they would have probably perished,” said Deanna Wilmore.
For now, the family is looking ahead to March when they hope to see Wilmore for the first time in person since June of 2024.
While they’re excited, they’re also being cautiously optimistic and trying not to get their hopes up in the event of another delay.
“I’m hopeful but I don’t get real excited yet. Now once they launch, once Crew 10 launches, then I’ll be excited. Really excited,” said Wilmore.
Wilmore said her husband has been busy in space doing experiments and maintenance on their capsule. She said he’s also used his extra time to write two books as he awaits his return back home in a matter of weeks.
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