COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — From his hometown in Mt. Juliet to his college community in Cookeville, many across Middle Tennessee are eager to welcome Barry “Butch” Wilmore home from space.
What was supposed to be an eight-day trip turned into a nine-month stint in space. Wilmore and Suni Williams were on Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which had problems making it to the space station. NASA then decided it was too dangerous to use for the astronauts to return.
Tennessee Tech University's president and personal friend of Wilmore Phil Oldham told News 2 that despite repeated delays, Wilmore has maintained a strong mindset.
“We've been nervous and anxious for Barry, but every time we've had a chance to speak with him, he's calmed our concerns,” Oldham said. “He knows the importance of what he's doing and he knows the risks that are associated with it, but there's something inside him that drives him to say, 'Hey, if that's possible, I want to try that.”
Wilmore earned both his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree from TTU and is also a part of the school's Sports Hall of Fame. Wilmore still stays involved as an active Board of Trustees member.
“I'm not sure anybody is completely prepared for what they've had to go through, but if there is, it would be Barry Wilmore,” Oldham said. “Despite his notoriety at this point nationally, I hope people — once he's back home — get a chance to meet the real Barry Wilmore. I think they'll be even more impressed once they get to know who he is personally. [I] look forward to that and just get him home safe.”
NASA expects to welcome Wilmore and his crew home Tuesday evening. However, that timeline is subject to change.