Barry Wilmore, a native of Middle Tennessee, has experienced another delay in his return from the International Space Station (ISS), now expected in late March 2025. This extension will result in nearly 10 months in orbit.
During this time, Wilmore captured a remarkable photograph of Central and South U.S. illuminated by the recent full moon, showcasing city lights, including Nashville.
Wilmore, alongside fellow astronaut Suni Williams, arrived at the ISS in early June 2024 as part of a test mission for Boeing's Starliner. Initial plans for a one to two-week stay were disrupted by technical issues, leading to the Starliner's return without the crew due to safety concerns.
Wilmore is scheduled for a spacewalk on January 30, 2025, where he will assist with tasks related to the assembly, maintenance, and upgrades of the space station. This will mark his fifth spacewalk.
Despite the challenges of living in space, Wilmore remains engaged with sports, receiving updates from family about college football. His brother, Jack Wilmore, noted that the time difference complicates watching night games.
The delay in Wilmore and Williams' return was influenced by the postponed arrival of NASA's SpaceX Crew 10 team, which is now slated for late March 2025. Wilmore has frequently emphasized that preparing for unexpected situations constitutes a significant portion of astronaut training.
Upon their return, Wilmore and Williams will be joined by SpaceX Crew 9 members, including Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.