Nasa astronaut Butch Wilmore retires after nine months in space

The US space agency paid tribute to Mr Wilmore's service and praised his commitment as "truly exemplary", Nasa said in a statement.

Mr Wilmore is a decorated US Navy captain who has flown in four different spacecrafts and accumulated 464 days in space during his tenure.

The saga captivated the world after what was meant to be an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024 was dramatically extended, with the pair finally returning to Earth in March this year.

Stephen Koerner, Acting Director of Nasa's Johnson Space Center, thanked Mr Wilmore for his dedication to space exploration.

"His lasting legacy of fortitude will continue to impact and inspire the Johnson workforce, future explorers, and the nation for generations," he said.

Mr Wilmore retires at the age of 62, which is almost 20 years older than the average age for astronauts, with candidates usually selected between the ages of 26 and 46.

He served as a test pilot before being selected by Nasa to become an astronaut in 2000.

His last mission was taking part in the first crewed test flight of the Starliner spacecraft with Ms Williams last year before the capsule suffered technical problems as it approached the ISS.

"Docking was imperative," Mr Wilmore told BBC News in May. "If we weren't able to dock, would we be able to make it back? We didn't know."

Watch: How two astronauts were left in space for nine months

They finally managed to dock after Mission Control on the ground helped them restart the craft's thrusters.

But the spacecraft was deemed too risky to transport the astronauts home and the pair had to wait for a new ride to take them back to Earth.

After several delays over the next nine months, Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams finally made their homecoming aboard a SpaceX capsule.

In his parting remarks, Mr Wilmore cited an "insatiable curiosity" that propelled him into space while always maintaining a connection to his home.

"Even as I ventured beyond Earth's limits, I remained attuned to the beauty and significance of the world below," he said.

Even after retirement, astronauts often participate in studies to monitor their physical and mental health for the long-term effects of space travel on their bodies.

Both Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams were given an extensive exercise regime after returning home as their bodies re-adapted to living with gravity.

-BBC