NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore has revealed who he believes truly rescued him while he was stranded in space for more than nine months.
The astronaut, while acknowledging that being stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) was not an ideal situation, expressed his belief that everything will work out for those who have faith.
He emphasized the importance of his faith in Jesus Christ, stating that he trusts in God’s plan and purpose for humanity, finding significance and meaning in how it intertwines with our own lives.
The astronaut is a devout Christian and has not shied away from his faith while being in the public eye.
Originally from Tennessee, he currently resides in Texas with his wife, Deanna, and their two daughters, Daryn and Logan, all of whom are active members of the Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena.
Wilmore paused moments before the June 5 launch, huddling in prayer with technicians and his crewmate Sunita Williams.
His daughter Daryn, also raised in the church, told DailyMail.com: ‘The Lord has given all of us a peace throughout all of this and we know it was his plan.’
Wilmore and Williams splashed down off the coast of Florida Tuesday at 5:57pm ET and Daryn said she saw her dad a few hours after he was released from medical.
‘The Lord has blessed us in this time, and we know he’s in control of it,’ said Daryn on the day of her father’s return.
NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore (left) recently shared that it was his faith that helped him get through the unexpected stay in space. He and his crewmate Sunita Williams were stuck on the International Space Station for more than nine months
Born and raised in Tennessee, he now lives in Texas with his wife, Deanna (center right), and two daughters, Daryn (left) and Logan (right), who are all members of the Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena
Wilmore and Williams were set to return home on June 13, but a scourge of technical issues with their spacecraft, Boeing’s Starliner.
The problems ultimately drove NASA to delay their return until they could hitch a ride home on a safer ship.
The fiasco made its way to the White House where President Donald Trump blame former President Joe Biden for ‘abandoning’ the pair in space.
Trump made the comments in January, tapping Elon Musk to ‘go get’ them as soon as possible.
Shortly after, NASA announced an earlier return date for Williams and Wilmore.
Wilmore gave an interview earlier this month while still in space, but it was just shared with the public this week, where the Christian Broadcasting Network asked him what his life lesson or takeaway was from the nine months in space.
‘However [God’s plan] plays out I am content because I understand that,’ Wilmore said.
‘I understand that He’s at work in all things somethings are for the good go to Hebrews 11, some things look to us to be not so good but it all works out for his good for those that will believe.’
Wilmore paused moments before the June 5 launch, huddling in prayer with technicians and his crewmate Sunita Williams
The astronaut admitted that being stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) was not ideal but said, ‘It all works out for those that will believe.’ Pictures is Wilmore early Wednesday morning after leaving medical
Ahead of the mission, the astronaut said that his family was prepared for his stay in space because they ‘trusted in sovereign God.
‘Whatever the plan is, we’re ready for it, whatever that might be,’ he added.
Deanna had said Wilmore’s faith that God is in control gives his family great peace. He is content on the space station, neither worrying nor fretting.
‘We’re not saying this means that nothing bad will happen or the Starliner will bring Barry home safely, but whatever the Lord does, will be for our good and for His glory,’ even if they don’t fully understand it, Deanna said before the June flight.
It is unknown how many have practiced their faith in orbit, according to NASA, because some keep it private. But flight-certified religious items are permitted.
In 2023, astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli celebrated Hanukkah on the ISS, sharing a video featuring a menorah, a spinning dreidel and her view of Earth.
Houston Rabbi Shaul Osadchey encouraged a member of his congregation and then astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman to bring the first Torah into space on his final shuttle mission in 1996.
Osadchey tracked down a miniature scroll, and he and about 40 synagogue members attended the launch in Florida.
‘We bring our culture and our backgrounds with us where we go,’ said Osadchey, noting Hoffman read from the Torah, the start of Genesis specifically, on Shabbat. ‘Jeff brought the Jewish tradition into a new domain — new world that is being conquered by humans.’
The three astronauts aboard Apollo 8 broadcasted their reading from Genesis on Christmas Eve as they flew around the moon, starting with ‘In the beginning, God created the heaven and the Earth.’
