Heuston, we have a problem. 

Two astronauts stranded in space for the past month could be stuck for at least another month, according to a space commentator - without clean underwear.

Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams left Earth for the International Space Station (ISS) on June 5th – and were supposed to return eight days later. 

Instead, after docking at the ISS, their space capsule had several technical problems that left them stranded at the station. 

Space commentator and broadcaster Leo Enright said the two astronauts will be fine – but they’ll have to wait another while before they set foot on Earth again. 

“It could be another month,” he told The Pat Kenny Show.

“Now, for them, that’s not a disaster – both Sunita and Butch have spent six months at a time living on the space station. 

“They probably know more about the little cubbyholes on the space station than the people that are there at the moment.” 

There is, however, one “embarrassing” problem, according to Mr Enright. 

“That problem is their underwear,” he said. 

“There was a problem with the space station that they had to bring up some extra gear to fix – and to fit that gear on their spaceship, they threw out their underwear before they left to make space. 

“They're now stuck up there with no clean underwear.” 

Astronauts stuck in space

Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams travelled from Earth on Boeing's Starliner – and the airline is now dealing with the gravity of the situation. 

Mr Enright said Boeing was previously “the gold standard of safe aeroplanes and safe spaceships” 

However, 346 people died in two Boeing Max crashes in October 2018 and March 2019. 

The CEO of Boeing formally apologised to victim’s families last month – but the families have asked the US Justice Department to impose a $24 billion fine. 

Mr Enright said throughout this scandal, there was never doubt cast over Boeing’s space crafts – until now. 

“Nobody thought that there might be a problem with their spaceships,” he said. 

“Most of what they’re worried about, I think, is OK – but it’s a really bad look.” 

The space capsule the two astronauts flew in had five helium leaks, five dead manoeuvring thrusters and a propellant valve that failed to close completely. 

Listen back here: