NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore’s daughter, Daryn Wilmore, is eagerly preparing to welcome her father home after his extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). To mark the occasion, she plans to bake his favorite dessert—pecan pie—and has created a list of cherished activities they can enjoy together before she returns to school.
Wilmore, originally scheduled for an eight-day mission alongside astronaut Sunita Williams on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, ended up spending 286 days in space due to technical issues. The duo safely returned to Earth on March 19, landing off the coast of Florida in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Both astronauts are now undergoing a 45-day rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth’s gravity.
A daughter’s joy and excitement
Daryn Wilmore took to TikTok on Wednesday to share her excitement, posting a video ahead of the splashdown. “Hi everyone, welcome to the very final installment of ‘My Dad is Stuck in Space’—because he’s not anymore!” she announced enthusiastically.
Expressing her happiness, she added, “It’s happening, guys, it’s finally happening! I’m so happy and proud—he has done such amazing work.”
Daryn also revealed her plans for their reunion. “I’m making him his favorite dessert, which is pecan pie,” she said. “I have a list of all his favourite things and everything we used to do together, so hopefully, we can do them in the next few days before I go back to school.”
A quiet homecoming
While many might expect a grand celebration for the returning astronaut, Daryn shared that her family has opted for a more intimate gathering at her uncle’s home. “We might just have a little get-together with a few close friends, but no big party or anything,” she said.
The Wilmore family is aware that Butch still has a challenging road ahead as he readapts to life on Earth. Daryn acknowledged that her father would be undergoing extensive medical evaluations and testing, as he remains “technically part of the experiment of human spaceflight.”
Social media reacts to Wilmore’s return
Daryn’s TikTok update quickly garnered attention, with social media users celebrating the astronaut’s safe return.
“Yay! So excited for you and your family. Grateful they had a safe return to Earth,” one user commented.
Another wrote, “So happy he’s home! I know he enjoyed that pie.”
A third added, “He must have missed you so much! You are so sweet.”
Calls for a Hollywood adaptation
Towards the end of her TikTok video, Daryn made a playful appeal to the film industry, suggesting that her father’s extraordinary journey deserves to be told on the big screen.
“Hollywood, I believe a movie should happen. I believe a movie should happen. If you want to call me, I have ideas,” she said.
Referring to the iconic space film Apollo 13, she added, “‘Apollo 13’ is a great movie. But do you know what could be even better? This movie right here.”
Overcoming setbacks
Prior to her father’s return, Daryn had expressed frustration over the repeated delays, citing possible negligence as a reason for the prolonged wait. She admitted that the situation had been difficult for their family.
“It’s been hard, if we’re completely honest,” she said in a previous interview, as reported by E! News.
Now, with Wilmore safely back on Earth, his family is embracing the long-awaited reunion, supporting him as he reacclimates to life under gravity after nearly a year in space.