How stranded astronauts are preparing for 6 months in space | Space

The two astronauts who launched for an eight-day voyage are now settling in for a possible extended stay in orbit 262 miles above earth — and have spoken to their families about the possibility that they won’t return home until 2025.

Veteran astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were piloting the maiden voyage of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, have been stuck in space for 63 days.

Both Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, have been in frequent contact their families as they await their ultimate fate. “Butch and Suni are ready to support whatever we need to do,” Dana Weigel, the Program manager for the International Space Station. “They’re prepared for whatever path that we go down.”

From the start, Starliner has faced serious mechanical issues in its propulsion system, ultimately stranding Whitmore and Williams at the International Space Station. In a media teleconference on Wednesday, NASA announced yet another delay in bringing them home — and made it clear that the astronauts may not return on Starliner at all.

Engineers are worried about the loss of control as Starliner returns to earth, and will conduct multiple tests in the coming weeks. If they determine that the risks are too high, Wilmore and Williams would have no…