The Faith That Kept an Astronaut Grounded

Butch Wilmore, a NASA astronaut, spent 286 days in space. This was far longer than planned. He and his crewmate Sunita Williams were supposed to return home on June 13. However, technical problems with their spacecraft, Boeing's Starliner, delayed their return. They had to wait until a safer ship was ready to bring them back to Earth. Wilmore is a devout Christian. He believes his faith helped him stay calm and hopeful during his extended stay in space. He shared that his belief in God's plan gave him peace. He knew that no matter what happened, it would all work out for the best. He said, "It's bound in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ he is working out his plan and his purposes for his glory throughout all of humanity and how that plays into our lives is significant and important. " Wilmore's family also shares his faith. They are all members of the Providence Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas. His daughter Daryn said that their faith gave them peace during his time in space. She said, "The Lord has given all of us a peace throughout all of this and we know it was his plan. " Wilmore's faith is not just a personal belief. It is a part of his public life as well. He prayed with technicians and his crewmate before the launch. He also shared his faith with the public in interviews. He said that his family was prepared for his stay in space because they trusted in God's plan. He said, "Whatever the plan is, we're ready for it, whatever that might be. "Wilmore's experience is not unique. Many astronauts have practiced their faith in orbit. Some have even brought religious items with them. In 2023, astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli celebrated Hanukkah on the International Space Station. She shared a video featuring a menorah and a spinning dreidel. In 1996, astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman brought the first Torah into space. He read from it on Shabbat. The three astronauts aboard Apollo 8 broadcasted their reading from Genesis on Christmas Eve as they flew around the moon. They started with "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the Earth. " This shows that faith has always been a part of space exploration. It has helped astronauts stay grounded, even when they are far from home. The technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft caused a delay in the return of Wilmore and Williams. This delay made its way to the White House. President Donald Trump blamed former President Joe Biden for "abandoning" the pair in space. He even suggested that Elon Musk should "go get" them as soon as possible. However, Wilmore's faith remained strong. He said that he was content with God's plan, no matter what happened. He said, "However