Astronaut and decorated naval aviator Barry “Butch” Wilmore praised American “unity” and “resilience” Wednesday as Boeing’s Starliner prepared to embark on its maiden voyage.
“Suni and I, as we were traveling to the pad, we saw many American flags and many of you were waving flags at us,” Wimore said as he sat next to astronaut Suni Williams in the Atlas V rocket.
“As we reached the pad, we looked up, and, of course, there’s that American flag on the side of the white room, also one on the side of the rocket, itself, and we know that that represents unity and resilience and unified efforts for the common good,” Wilmore continued.
Witnessing the patriotism and pride that Americans carry with them over the past month has inspired the astronauts, Wilmore said.
“Each of you displaying what this nation’s forefathers envisioned: a people committed to God, family, and country,” said Wimore, a combat veteran who has flown missions over Bosnia and Iraq.
“A people who use their gifts and talents for the common good, and are passionate and tough, and we all know that when the going gets tough, and it often does, the tough get going, and you have,” he added.
It is an honor to share the “dream of space flight” with all the patriots on the ground, Wilmore said.
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“Let’s get going, and let’s put some fire in this rocket,” he said. “Let’s push it to the heavens, where all these tough Americans have prepared it to be.”
Wednesday’s launch was the third attempt for the Starliner mission, and a successful liftoff took place at 10:52 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
