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Tennessee Tech hosts alumnus, trustee Butch Wilmore for video chat from the International Space Station
Tennessee Tech alumnus and trustee Barry “Butch” Wilmore appears in Tech’s signature
purple and gold colors to speak with local students in a video chat from the International
Space Station on June 11, 2024. A Tennessee Tech athletics decal is seen at left.
Photo: Screengrab of live event via NASA TV.
Tennessee Tech University hosted a video chat yesterday with a notable alumnus that was out of this world – literally.
Two-time Tech graduate, trustee and NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore appeared
live from the International Space Station for a question-and-answer session with children
of Tech faculty and staff.
Wilmore is part of the historic two-person crew for the Boeing Starliner’s maiden
manned voyage. The spacecraft launched on June 5 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
in Florida and is currently slated to return to Earth on June 18.
Wearing Tech’s signature purple and gold colors and proudly displaying a Tennessee
flag and Tech athletics decal, Wilmore kicked off the event by joking that he had
declared it “Tennessee Tech Day” at the International Space Station. He went on to
answer a broad range of questions ranging from “Where does space begin?” to “What
does space food taste like?” and “How do you sleep in space?”
During the event, Wilmore also introduced fellow astronauts Jeanette Epps and Suni
Williams, who donned Tech baseball and football jerseys to show their support for
Wilmore’s alma mater.
From left: Astronauts Suni Williams and Jeannette Epps join Tennessee Tech alumnus
and trustee Barry “Butch” Wilmore for his June 11 video chat from the International
Space Station with the children of Tech faculty and staff. Williams wears a Tech football
jersey while Epps appears in a Tech baseball uniform. Photo: Screengrab of live event
via NASA TV.
Wilmore encouraged students who wish to pursue future careers with NASA to “study,
study, study.”
“If you’re interested in space and want to work for NASA, then STEM – science, technology,
engineering and math – is the route you have to take,” Wilmore explained in response
to a student’s question. “Study hard. Math and sciences, it will get you to that place
if that’s what you desire to do.”
Tech President Phil Oldham provided brief opening and closing remarks for the event,
telling the Tech alumnus and trustee, “We are proud of you and can’t wait to see you
in person when you come back to Earth.”
Wilmore holds two degrees and an honorary doctorate from Tech. The Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
native is a member of the university’s Sports Hall of Fame and the recipient of Tech’s
2010 Outstanding Alumni Award for the College of Engineering. His term on the university’s
Board of Trustees extends from 2017 to 2026.
Watch video of Wilmore’s Q&A with the children of Tech faculty and staff courtesy
of NASA TV here.
