Astronaut’s Daughter Voices Frustration Over Space Mission Delay
The daughter of astronaut Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore has indicated her belief that NASA’s ‘incompetence’ contributed to her father’s extended stay in space.
TikTok Comments Fuel Speculation
In a recently discovered social media post from January, Daryn Wilmore, 19, appeared to express her dissatisfaction in response to a comment on her TikTok account.
When a user commented, ‘I’m so sorry NASA is actually evil…’, Daryn replied, ‘Less evil more… incompetent.’
In a subsequent video posted in February, Daryn implied that ‘politics’ and ‘oversight’ played a role in her father’s prolonged mission.
Wilmore and Williams Return After Extended ISS Stay
Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and fellow astronaut Sunita Williams safely returned to Earth last night, concluding a nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their extended mission was due to complications with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that transported them to the station.
The astronauts were initially scheduled to spend only eight days on the space station and were expected to reunite with their families much sooner.
Following her father’s return, Daryn Wilmore spoke to DailyMail.com, stating there were ‘definitely some errors’ that led to the prolonged spaceflight.
Butch Wilmore’s daughter, Daryn (left), told DailyMail.com that she baked a pecan pie for her dad to eat upon his return home
Daryn Wilmore Clarifies Comments, Acknowledges Mission ‘Mess-ups’
Referring to her previous online remarks, Daryn clarified, ‘I really just meant that there were different factors within the organization that influenced the decision for them to remain, which ultimately was a prudent and safe decision.’
‘While I am not directly employed by NASA and lack extensive knowledge, I recognize the dedication of the personnel. Despite evident setbacks with the Starliner mission, there were also significant accomplishments.’
Boeing Starliner Issues Led to Prolonged Mission
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered thruster malfunctions and helium leaks during its mission to deliver Williams and Wilmore to the ISS in June.
Although both astronauts successfully reached the space station, NASA deemed it too hazardous to use the Starliner for their return in August.
The uncrewed Starliner was subsequently returned to Earth in September. Wilmore and Williams remained on the ISS, awaiting return via SpaceX’s Crew-9 flight.
An initial eight-day mission on the ISS stretched into over nine months.
Astronauts Maintained Positive Outlook During Extended Stay
Throughout their extended stay, both astronauts consistently stated they did not feel stranded and welcomed the additional time aboard the space station.
Their families echoed this sentiment, informing the media of their longing but expressing no concern for their safety.
However, as months passed, Daryn Wilmore’s social media posts became increasingly forthright about her family’s situation.
In her February video, she acknowledged, ‘It’s been challenging, to be frank,’ emphasizing her frustration stemmed ‘less from his being in space’ and ‘more from the underlying reasons for the extended duration.’
Following a fiery re-entry, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, decelerated by four parachutes, safely splashed down at 5:57 pm ET (21:57 GMT) on Tuesday
After splashdown off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, Williams and Wilmore were assisted onto stretchers by NASA recovery personnel, a standard procedure for astronauts after prolonged periods in microgravity
Daryn Wilmore Points to ‘Politics’ and ‘Negligence’
‘There are numerous political factors and other elements that I am neither authorized to disclose nor fully aware of,’ she stated in her February video.
‘However, issues and oversights have occurred. These are the reasons for the repeated delays. It’s been one problem after another.’
Trump’s Involvement and Rescheduled Return
In January, former President Donald Trump asserted he instructed SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to ‘retrieve’ the astronauts, claiming they had been ‘virtually abandoned’ by the current administration.
This prompted NASA and SpaceX to expedite the Crew-9 return flight, moving it approximately two weeks earlier than originally scheduled.
Crew-9 Mission Concludes Long Duration Spaceflight
The Crew-9 Dragon capsule, carrying Williams, Wilmore, and fellow Crew-9 astronauts NASA’s Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57pm ET on Tuesday.
This marked the conclusion of the Starliner crew’s 285-day space mission.
Subsequently, each of the four astronauts emerged from the Dragon capsule and were assisted onto stretchers by NASA’s recovery team.
This is routine procedure for astronauts due to muscle weakness after extended periods in microgravity environments.
The crew then underwent medical evaluations to assess the effects of microgravity, radiation exposure, and other stresses associated with space travel.