NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore (lieutenant commander, USN) earned the MS in Aviation Systems at UT Space Institute in 1994. Selected as a pilot by NASA in July 2000, Wilmore reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties representing the astronaut office on all propulsion systems issues, including the space shuttle main engines, solid rocket motor, and external tank. He also led the astronaut support team that traveled to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in support of launch and landing operations.
He completed his first flight as pilot on STS-129 and has logged over 259 hours in space. STS-129 (November 16–29, 2009) was the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station. During the mission, the crew delivered two Express Logistics Carriers (ELC racks) to the International Space Station, and about thirty thousand pounds of replacement parts for systems that provide power to the station, keep it from overheating, and maintain proper orientation in space. The mission also featured three spacewalks. The STS-129 mission was completed in 10 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes and 13 seconds, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits, and returned to earth, bringing back with them NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, following her tour of duty aboard the space station. Wilmore next spent six months at the space station.