Astronauts Endurance: SpaceX to Rescue Stranded Crew

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are now full-time International Space Station crew members after being left behind due to Boeing's capsule troubles. The duo awaits a late-February SpaceX ride, extending their mission to over eight months. Both astronauts have extensive backgrounds and unique personal stories.

Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, have become full-time International Space Station crew members after Boeing's Starliner capsule malfunction left them stranded. Initially, their mission was to last just eight days, but they now wait for a SpaceX ride late in February, resulting in an eight-month extension on their mission.

Wilmore, a 61-year-old Navy test pilot, is no stranger to extended missions. With over 8,000 hours of flying time and 663 aircraft carrier landings, he has previously flown to the space station and conducted spacewalks. Meanwhile, 58-year-old Williams, the first woman to serve as a test pilot for a new spacecraft, brings her own rich diversity and extensive experience to the ISS.

Both astronauts are supported by their families back on Earth. Wilmore is an elder at his Houston-area Baptist church, while Williams' background includes serving as the space station commander and engaging in unique activities like running the Boston Marathon on a station treadmill. Their story underscores the resilience and versatility required for life in space.

(With inputs from agencies.)