Wife Of Astronaut Barry Wilmore, Deanna Wilmore, And Their Two Daughters, Await His Return After A Nine-Month Stay On The ISS

Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams boarded the ISS on June 6, 2024, for what they thought was an 8-day mission.

Highlights

• Barry Wilmore’s originally short mission turned into a nine-month stay on the ISS due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.
• His wife, Deanna, and their two daughters, Daryn and Logan, have been supportive throughout his career, navigating life without him while staying connected through communication channels.
• Wilmore and his crewmates are finally returning to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, marking an emotional reunion for his family and a significant event in space exploration.

NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore has recently garnered significant attention as he prepares to return to Earth after an unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Originally slated for a brief stay, technical challenges extended his time in orbit, making his homecoming a highly anticipated event.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who were stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over 9 months due to issues with the Boeing Starliner capsule, are now scheduled to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Both astronauts… pic.twitter.com/JWsHeZReLq

— Times Always (@timesalways1) March 17, 2025

Barry’s Nine-Month Absence Has Been Hard On His Loving Family

Barry’s prolonged absence has been particularly poignant for his wife, Deanna Wilmore, and their two daughters, Daryn and Logan.

The Wilmore family resides in Houston, Texas, balancing the demands of Barry’s career with family life.

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A post shared by Daryn (@darynthepuff.cos)

Deanna, originally from Helenwood, Tennessee, has been a steadfast partner throughout Barry’s career.

While specific details about her professional endeavors remain private, her unwavering support has been evident.

In interviews, the couple has shared insights into their relationship, emphasizing their shared faith and commitment to building a strong marriage.

For example, in a podcast series titled “Back on Solid Ground,” Barry and Deanna discussed the challenges of astronaut training and how they built their marriage on faith and mutual support.

In an interview, Deanna, a devout Christian, said about her husband,

On August 29, 2024, Barry’s teenage daughter, Logan posted a video on TikTok, with the caption,

At the time, Barry was stuck in the ISS for 2 months and 25 days.

@logiesoffice not dead, just stuck in space😻 im not worried at all just miss him!#boeingstarliner #greenscreen #foryoupage #nasa ♬ i sleep so i can see you – 🦄

Barry Has Had An Illustrious Career, Both As A Navy Pilot And An Astronaut

Born on December 29, 1962, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Barry Wilmore’s journey to the stars began with a solid foundation in education and military service.

He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Tennessee Technological University and a master’s in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee.

Before joining NASA in 2000, Wilmore was a seasoned Navy test pilot with over 8,000 flight hours and 663 carrier landings.

Barry Wilmore has had an impressive career with NASA, highlighted by several significant missions.

In 2009, he was part of STS-129, an 11-day Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where he contributed to critical work.

From 2014 to 2015, Wilmore spent six months aboard the ISS as part of Expedition 41/42.

During this extended mission, he performed multiple spacewalks.

Astronaut Butch Wilmore talks about @NASA_SLS and it's capabilities! pic.twitter.com/cGAIfYMJ4x

— Space & Rocket Ctr (@RocketCenterUSA) April 14, 2018

In June 2024, Wilmore participated in the Boeing Crew Flight Test, a mission initially planned to be short-term for testing Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

However, due to unexpected technical complications, this mission became his longest.

Breaking: Butch Wilmore to fly on the Boeing Starliner crew flight test alongside NASA Astronauts Nicole Mann (@AstroDuke) and Mike Fincke (@AstroIronMike).

More info…https://t.co/GGjrrGpy9O pic.twitter.com/pG5NbImllp

— NASA Astronauts (@NASA_Astronauts) October 7, 2020

The Nine-Month Mission Was Originally Meant To Be Only Eight Days

In June 2024, Wilmore and fellow astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams embarked on the inaugural crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule, aiming for an eight-day mission to evaluate the spacecraft’s performance.

However, post-docking inspections revealed propulsion system anomalies, rendering the Starliner unsafe for return.

Consequently, NASA opted to keep the astronauts aboard the ISS, integrating them into the station’s regular crew rotation, alongside Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov, who joined Barry and Sunita in September 2024.

All four are returning today (March 18, 2025).

American astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams are indefinitely stranded in Space. pic.twitter.com/eZlrw7ul2k

— E! News (@enews) August 10, 2024

During their extended stay, Wilmore, Williams, Hague, and Gorbunov actively participated in scientific research, maintenance tasks, and spacewalks, contributing significantly to the station’s operations.

Their adaptability transformed a potential setback into an opportunity for continued exploration and discovery.

Welcome aboard, #Crew9!

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov joined the Expedition 72 crew aboard the space station today, kicking off their five-month @ISS_Research mission. More… https://t.co/rcF4cWKl6F pic.twitter.com/qDspWtbQZw

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) September 29, 2024

Given the unresolved issues with the Starliner, NASA arranged for the astronauts to return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule.

The spacecraft undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. ET, embarking on a 17-hour journey back to Earth, with a scheduled splashdown off the Florida coast around 6:00 p.m. ET, March 18, 2025.

WATCH: NASA’s two stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, headed back to Earth with SpaceX to close out a dramatic marathon mission that began with a bungled Boeing test flight more than nine months ago. Read more here: https://t.co/1W4X8szSXV pic.twitter.com/z90if0tixX

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 18, 2025

Replacing the Crew-9 team of Barry Wilmore, Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, and Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard the ISS are the Crew-10 astronauts: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Takuya Onishi, and Kirill Peskov.

The Wilmore Family Reunion Has Been Highly Anticipated

The extended mission has undoubtedly been challenging for the Wilmore family.

Deanna, Daryn, and Logan have navigated daily life without their husband and father, relying on communication channels to stay connected.

Daryn had recently said in an interview,

The upcoming reunion is a moment of immense joy and relief, marking the end of a prolonged period of separation.

Additional Information

• During Barry Wilmore’s earlier mission (Expedition 41/42) aboard the ISS in 2014–2015, he conducted three spacewalks totaling over 19 hours. These spacewalks were pivotal for ISS maintenance, including installing cables and configuring equipment for future spacecraft docking.
• As a U.S. Navy captain and test pilot, Barry Wilmore mentored many young pilots. His leadership extended beyond his military service, influencing aspiring astronauts through NASA’s outreach programs. He often shares his journey to inspire the next generation of explorers.
• During his extended stay on the ISS in 2024, Wilmore contributed to multiple scientific experiments, including testing new materials for spacecraft construction and studying the impact of microgravity on human health. These studies will have long-term implications for space exploration and medical advancements.