Updated March 12: Butch Wilmore returned to Earth yesterday from the International Space Station, landing in remote Kazakhstan. He has spent a total of 178 days in space.
Meet Barry “Butch” Wilmore, your friendly local astronaut.
Wilmore grew up in Mt. Juliet and went to Tennessee Tech University and the University of Tennessee. Then he enlisted in the Navy, became a pilot and then — an astronaut.
“Step by step, eventually I was in a position where I had qualifications to do this job, and it was something that was always in the back of my mind,” Wilmore told WPLN during an interview in September, right before he launched up to the International Space Station.
“It actually took four applications before I finally got selected, but thankfully it all worked out.”
Wilmore is now the captain of the six-person crew on the ISS until mid-March. He’s been doing scientific research, as well as orbiting the Earth every 93 minutes.
Fortunately for all of us who do not share his good fortune to ride in a spaceship, he’s been manning the ISS Instagram account and posting pics several times a day.
These are our favorite snapshots of life aboard the ISS.
1. The one that confirms the Earth is round
Apparently that whole thing about Christopher Columbus thinking the Earth was flat is a myth — even the ancient Greeks suspected they were living on something globe-like. Still, this picture of the Bahamas would have saved humanity a lot of time spent huddling over mathematical equations.
2. The one that could go in an art gallery
Those aren’t brush strokes, dear Earthlings. Those are giant wind and rain streaks in the sands of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
3. But the one that reminds you America has some cool stuff, too.
Even the Grand Canyon looks tiny on Instagram.
4. The one that saves you a trip to Finland.
Want to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights? No need to fly to a really cold, dark place. Just hop aboard the ISS!
5. The one that gets delightfully scientific.
Wilmore’s caption: “#Moonset into the blue. Color due to concurrent sunrise, shape change from atmosphere light refraction.” If an entire day goes by in an hour and a half up there, these photos must have been taken quickly.
6. The one where his selfie beats your selfie.
Just when you thought he couldn’t get any cooler, Wilmore goes on a spacewalk and takes the most classic Instagram photo of them all — a selfie. The object in his reflection is fellow astronaut Terry Virts.
7. The one where you get to see Dubai’s manmade islands.
Technically, they’re called “artificial archipelagos.” Only a few of them are fully developed and inhabited so far. Wilmore’s photos also make you realize just how big the water-to-inhabitable-land ratio is.
8. The one that shows off his digs.
Welcome aboard the ISS, folks. Prepare to work.
9. And the one that shows astronauts can still have fun.
Apparently the six folks on the ISS celebrated Wilmore’s 52nd birthday in December. Although, does he age differently now that he’s in zero-g? Happy perpetual birthday, #astrobutch!
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