Astronauts on Boeing Starliner Spacecraft Stranded in Space

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, seasoned Boeing Starliner astronauts, are currently stranded in space and will not be able to return home until February. Their families believe that the decision to keep them there was made with their safety in mind.

The planned eight-day space trip has become a months-long journey. NASA officials announced that the spacecraft would return to Earth without them over the weekend.

Since the discovery of helium leaks and thruster issues following the docking of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, NASA and Boeing have been investigating the International Space Station, with Wilmore and Williams remaining on board.

Wilmore and Williams have experience with outer space, as Wilmore's official NASA bio indicates that this is his third mission on the International Space Station and he spent a total of 178 days in space from his previous two missions, with his most recent trip ending in March 2015.

Wilmore had Navy service, with deployments during Operations Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and Southern Watch, which involved flying over Iraq.

In Texas, Deanna and their daughters Daryn and Logan reside while Wilmore is in space.

Deanna told WVLT-TV that one must simply accept the unpredictable and adapt accordingly.

Wilmore's family can video call him multiple times daily from the International Space Station.

Daryn told the TV station, "It's amazing how he provides us with numerous Earth views, particularly during sunset."

The Wilmore family is accustomed to missing family events and memories due to the uncertainty and stress of his profession.

Deanna stated that she believes the Lord is in control, so she is content with her current situation.

Like Wilmore, Williams is also on her third mission on the ISS, with 322 days in space before the current mission. She, too, served in the Navy before becoming an astronaut, having served in a Navy helicopter squadron overseas during the military buildup for the Gulf War.

According to The Associated Press, she is married to Michael Williams, a retired U.S. marshal and former naval aviator who is taking care of their dogs in Houston.

NASA reports that the couple enjoys various activities such as spending time with their dogs, exercising, renovating homes, tinkering with cars, working on airplanes, hiking, and camping.

Michael previously stated to The Wall Street Journal that space is his wife's "happy place."

Her widowed mother often frets about her job, according to the AP.

Before launching, Williams stated, "As her baby daughter, I believe she's always concerned."

"Bonnie Pandya, the mother of the astronaut, expressed her happiness that they did not immediately send her down after two accidents with the shuttle. She stated that she would not want her daughter or anyone else to experience such accidents. Therefore, she believes it is better to err on the side of caution."

Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth on a SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon mission, scheduled to launch on or after Sept. 24. The mission will reduce its crew from four to two to accommodate the stranded astronauts, expected to return in February 2025. The Crew-9 mission will also carry additional cargo and Dragon-specific spacesuits for Wilmore and Williams, as their Boeing suits are incompatible with the SpaceX spacecraft.

Planet Chronicle' Michael Dorgan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.