Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

It's not every day someone spends nearly ten months floating above the Earth. Astronaut Barry 'Butch' Wilmore did exactly that, staying aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for an unexpected 286 days—far longer than the planned eight-day mission, according NASA.

Now, after Wilmore safely returned to Earth in March, his wife, Deanna, is opening up about the biggest changes she's observed since he's been back.

Wilmore, originally from Tennessee, launched into space alongside fellow astronaut Suni Williams on June 5, 2024. Due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule, what was meant to be a brief stay turned into a staggering nine-month mission. Even their rescue crew, Crew-9, faced delays in returning, resulting in an extended time away from home.


Butch smiles and flashes thumbs up as he's being helped off the capsulePhoto credit: NASA.gov

While the public often marvels at the physical changes astronauts undergo due to extended time in zero gravity, there's far more to adjusting back to Earth than we might realize. Deanna Wilmore recently spoke with WVLT News about her husband's recovery and adjustment.

“Barry does say gravity is not his friend right now," Deanna explained. "And you know the stamina is not there, and so they do have to rest and relax quite a bit because they’re just not strong yet.”

This isn’t uncommon—astronauts often spend months reacclimating to Earth's gravity after returning. While in space, daily exercise is mandatory, with astronauts completing two hours of physical activity each day to minimize negative health effects once back on Earth.


NASA Astronaut: Barry E. Wilmorewww.nasa.gov

But physical challenges aren't the only hurdles. The emotional toll of prolonged separation from loved ones is significant, too. Deanna expressed heartfelt gratitude for the global community's prayers and support throughout this challenging time.

“From East Tennessee and all over the world, really, we had so many people tell us they were praying for it,” she shared. “We certainly appreciate all those because we know that the Lord answers prayers and that he brought Crew-9 home safely, and those prayers definitely helped do the job.”

Wilmore and his crew weren't alone in facing the challenges of re-entry. Fellow astronaut Suni Williams has also spoken openly about her own readjustment experiences. Though the journey back to normal life is difficult, the outpouring of global support and well-wishes has undoubtedly made it easier.


- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Wilmore's 286-day mission highlights not only the physical demands of space travel but also the profound emotional resilience required from astronauts and their families.

nasarescuebarry 'butch' wilmorecrew-9stranded in spaceculture

The Latest

Celebrity tributes pour in for Val Kilmer after his passing​
Culture

Celebrity tributes pour in for Val Kilmer after his passing​

More For You

There's a new way to sign off of emails.

Representative Image: Sometimes "bye" is enough, right?

Canva

Gen Z is ditching ‘sincerely’ for hilarious email sign-offs, and people are loving it

If you've ever stared at the end of an email wondering if "Warm regards" sounded too stiff or if "Best" was just too boring, you're not alone. But Gen Z might have the best solution yet—just make it weird.

A viral TikTok has captured the internet’s attention with a series of unexpected, chaotic, and downright funny email sign-offs from young professionals. Instead of the usual business formalities, these sign-offs include things like “Hehe bye,” “That’s all… mmm… yeah,” and the ever-iconic “Alright, alright, alright.”

Keep ReadingShow less
He stood alone in his empty restaurant. His daughter posted a video—and the crowds came pouring in.
Representative photo by Canva

He stood alone in his empty restaurant. His daughter posted a video—and the crowds came pouring in.

Social media recently showcased its heartwarming power when a daughter shared a poignant TikTok video of her father sitting alone, waiting for customers in their empty family-run restaurant. The emotional footage quickly went viral, inspiring an overwhelming wave of community support.

@jennif3rle

tiktok do your thing & help support my parents Vietnamese restaurant:( my parents haven’t been having that many customers & been feeling stressed dealing with financial issues. if you want to check it out, they make delicious vietnamese food:) 1010 Hopper Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 #fyp #vietnamesefood #restaurant

Lee's Noodle House, located on Hopper Avenue, Santa Rosa, has been a family-owned business since 2003. Vuong and Ha Tran, Lee's parents, cook and serve authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Lee herself, along with her sister, previously worked at the restaurant, which had struggled significantly since the pandemic.

Sharing the video, Lee captioned it, "TikTok do your thing & help support my parent's Vietnamese restaurant :( My parents haven’t been having that many customers & been feeling stressed dealing with financial issues. If you want to check it out, they make delicious Vietnamese food:) 1010 Hopper Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403."

media1.tenor.com

Vuong, in an interview with The Press Democrat, admitted being surprised by his daughter's video and acknowledged the sadness it captured. The pandemic forced them to shorten their hours, closing early at 7:30 pm instead of the usual 9 pm, as they struggled to meet expenses.

Following the viral video, Lee's Noodle House was flooded with new customers, an overwhelming response that deeply touched the family. Lee followed up with more TikTok videos, sharing additional details about their Vietnamese dishes and expressing heartfelt gratitude. She wrote in one caption, "The amount of love and responses from the TikTok community has been insane! Also, thank you to the customers who have been coming for years, too! The comment section has brought my parents and me to tears. We are so grateful for all the support and for everyone who is coming out! We hope you can continue to spread the word about our small family business. My parents are the hardest workers I know and I just want happiness and good health for them. Please remember to be patient, as they are the only ones working!"

The incredible support from the community reminded everyone about the critical importance of helping local businesses through challenging times. Lee's touching video not only spotlighted the family's struggles but also showcased the positive potential of social media when used to unite and uplift others.

The Lee family continues to express their immense gratitude, hoping their newfound success will continue. It's beautiful when a simple act of kindness can profoundly impact lives, especially for those dedicated small businesses at the heart of our communities.

media1.tenor.com

Keep ReadingShow less
Manager forbids wage talk—employees hilariously post their salaries on company notice board
Representative image by Canva

Manager forbids wage talk—employees hilariously post their salaries on company notice board

Navigating corporate life isn't easy, especially when managers impose questionable rules on employees. A recent incident at a Planet Fitness in Kentucky highlighted how some managers misunderstand labor rights, particularly regarding salary discussions. Employees brilliantly confronted their manager after he attempted to forbid wage discussions—both at and outside the workplace.


Keep ReadingShow less
An empty office overlaid with a threat from a boss who wants everyone to come back to the office.

Representative Image: Work from home works, but some managers just can't handle it.

Canva

A CEO told remote workers to “go work somewhere else.” So they did.

For years, working from home was seen as a luxury. But after the pandemic forced companies into remote operations, it quickly became a new normal—and a preferred one for many. Now, some businesses are struggling to reconcile their desire to return to pre-pandemic norms with a workforce that’s grown wise to its rights and expectations.

One Reddit user recently shared a cautionary tale about what happens when leadership ignores that shift. In a post picked up by Bored Panda, the former team lead at a major food delivery app explained how a rigid return-to-office policy backfired spectacularly—and cost the company most of its team.

Keep ReadingShow less
A woman reads the letter sent by her neighbor.

Representative Image: What started as a noise complaint became a moment of humanity.

Canva

Super Bowl noise kept her up all night, but her neighbor’s note made it all worth it

Reddit user u/operarose didn’t expect to spend the night after Super Bowl LIX confronting her upstairs neighbor. But at around 12:30 a.m., the booming sounds of post-game excitement shaking her ceiling made sleep impossible.

“I had to get out of bed and go upstairs to ask my neighbor—whom I had never actually met—to lower the noise,” she explained in her post. Though it felt awkward to knock on a stranger’s door in the middle of the night, she had no choice.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025