KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — When Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams first boarded the Starliner and prepared to launch into orbit, they expected to return to Earth after around a week. They were sent on a mission to test Boeing's spacecraft and ensure it was safe to use.
Now, they are set to spend at least 10 months in space waiting for a chance to return to Earth.
Tommy Dahn is a pastor at a church in Texas and said he has known Wilmore for around 20 years. They are both elders at Providence Baptist Church in Houston. Wilmore is from Tennessee — a graduate of both Tennessee Tech and the University of Tennessee. Since being stranded in space, he has connected with people across the world through livestreams.
He has spoken to students and Dahn said he even gave a devotional from the stars.
"A few days ago, he called my mother-in-law who lives with us just to say hello to her. She's blind and 93 years old," he said. "We know him as Barry. Professionally, he's Butch."
Wilmore and Williams blasted off on June 5 as part of Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. A fresh crew needs to launch before they can return and the next mission has been bumped more than a month.
NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the brand new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March.
He also said Wilmore is "generous, humble" and has a big heart. Dahn said even though Wilmore may no longer live in Tennessee, or even be on Earth, he still calls the Volunteer State home.